Page 36 - 2021 - Q2 - Minerva in Focus

MARITIME TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Maintaining As an industry, we ought to proceed with caution. While bulk commodity supply chains

are working hard to meet pent-up demand for bulk commodities fuelled by ambitious
the integrity post-COVID national recovery plans, shipowners, operators, managers, and charterers
need to remember lessons learnt about operational resilience. To avoid disruption,
of cargo holds damage, or delay, vessels must be in optimal working condition, primed to protect their
cargoes, and equipped to ensure quick turnaround times in port. Maintaining the integ-
rity of cargo holds is an important factor.
is of great Protecting cargo holds

For vessel owners and operators, a key consideration for optimising operations is in-
importance vesting in a high-performance cargo hold coating. It might not be the most obvious
way to improve supply chain resilience but ensuring cargo holds are protected from
the extremely harsh conditions they are subjected to is integral to keeping vessels in
action. In particular, this is because loading and unloading dry cargo cause abrasion,
For centuries, demand for bulk com- impact, and mechanical damage. In addition, certain cargoes expose cargo holds to high
modities has been regarded as a bell- temperatures and harsh chemicals, which can damage and weaken the steel. In turn,
wether for the health and trajectory of damaged holds can expose cargoes to moisture, corrosion, and contamination.
the global economy and speaks to the Applying the right cargo hold coating will protect against such damage, reduce the pos-
importance of dry bulk shipping sup- sibility of contamination between cargoes and make it much easier to clean the holds
ply chains on lives and livelihoods the - improving turnaround time and reducing the risk of cargo hold rejection by inspectors.
world over. The fact that the Baltic Dry This is why global coatings manufacturer Hempel has been developing coatings for car-
Index (BDI) in early Q2 2021 reached go holds for more than 100 years and has created a wide range of coating solutions to
levels not seen for almost a decade is meet the needs of each vessel.
being read by many as a positive sign
that the green shoots of recovery may Ultra-Strength
be emerging. For bulk cargo carriers, Hempel’s Hempadur Ultra-Strength Fibre 47510 is a perfect solu-
tion, having been specifically developed to withstand the harsh conditions experienced
by cargo holds, hatch covers, and hatch coamings of dry bulk carriers.
Using Hempel´s patented fibre technology, this heavy-duty coating gives superior resist-
ance to abrasion, impact, cracking, and chemical attack, combined with an easy-to-clean
smooth surface. Higher coating flexibility is also delivered in critical cargo hold areas,
whilst the self-toughening technology is activated by cargo heat, boosting the coating’s
mechanical, chemical, and thermal resistance over time.
The result is that the application of Hempadur Ultra-Strength Fibre 47510 to cargo holds
provides up to 40 per cent reduction in maintenance costs compared with standard
epoxy coatings, which have traditionally been applied to dry bulk cargo holds. Its ul-
tra-fast curing properties also enable a fast return to service, as short as just three days,
and has a 10-year maintenance major repair interval.
by Davide Ippolito Ensuring vessels are in optimal working condition for years to come and do not require
long out-of-action periods will be particularly important if the current boom in demand
Head of Marine Group Product for dry bulk commodities continues. Investing in quality hold coatings will pay dividends
Management, Hempel A/S for all.

34 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 16 / Q2 2021