CMP’s hydrolysis-type anti-fouling ship bottom paint SEAFLO NEO series was developed through such R&D on friction reduction effects, and has been adopted by more than 1800 vessels since its release in 2010. (Number of contracts as of Jun. 2017)
The SEAFLO NEO series is antifouling ship bottom paints using high performance hydrolysis polymers, jointly developed by CMP, NMRI and Hitachi Chemical Co.,Ltd. under cooperation by the Nippon Foundation, the Cooperative Association of Japan Shipbuilders and Yuge National College of Maritime Technology. Thanks to the newly developed high performance hydrolysis polymers the SEAFLO NEO series exhibits an excellent self-leveling property, which enables formation of “low roughness and long wavelength” ultra-smooth low-friction coating films right after application.
As a result, the FIR value of SEAFLO NEO becomes 1.6%, achieving the lowest level of friction in the industry of hydrolysis-type products. Compared to the FIR value of 7.9% for conventional hydrolysis-type products, a reduction of frictional resistance by 6.3% is realized (measured by CMP). The contribution rate of frictional resistance (60-80%) to the overall drag of ships suggests that SEAFLO NEO reduces fuel consumption by 3-5%.
A reduction of fuel consumption by 3-5% translates into fuel cost saving of several hundred thousand U.S. dollars between paint applications for a large ship (the value varies depending on the ship shape, size, and cruising speed). Needless to say, fuel saving directly means conservation of energy resources and reduction of CO2 emissions, contributing towards the fight against global warming and to help environmental conservation. There has been a report saying the SEAFLO NEO series reduced fuel consumption by 4% in a performance verification test during a sea trial of new ships. It is considered difficult to justify the effects of paints onto the fuel efficiency of ships due to various marine factors involved.
However, test results produced by reliable institutions and test facilities can be highly important indications. CMP believes that the FIR Theory established through hydrodynamics and solid technologies, in cooperation with institutions, etc., becomes an effective indicator for estimating fuel-saving effects during development of CMP’s ever-evolving fuel-saving anti-fouling ship bottom paints such as the SEAFLO NEO serie.Additionally, the SEAFLO NEO series achieved the lowest VOC content in the industry of hydrolysis-type ship bottom paints. Compared to conventional products, the SEAFLO NEO series offers more than a 30% reduction in the paint consumption rate and more than a 40% reduction in the VOC content.
In September 2012, SEAFLO NEO has been recognized as a successful case of promoting industry-academia-government c ollaboration in the project “Development and application of paints that reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hull resistance”, and received the Minister’s Award by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) at the 10th Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Contribution Awards.
We have established FIR theory which can estimate the Friction Resistance by measuring and evaluating roughness(Rz) and wavelength(RSm) of the paint surface, and have been carrying out the evaluation of fuel saving effect with more accuracy.
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© Copyright 2020 Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
