Ecospeed is a non-toxic, environmentally clean, economically viable solution for protecting ships from corrosion and fouling. Lasting for at least 10 years, its surface is conditioned and maintained periodically by mechanical methods. All the properties of Ecospeed are the same when applied to a GRP hull, as with a steel one, but in addition it creates a strong barrier against osmosis due to the fact that the glass platelets form a multilayered barrier preventing water from seeping through the coating.

Ir. Peter Degraer MSC, of the Belgian Navy, said 'The Navy has chosen Ecospeed because of a number of key points. The product has an extremely long life, it is non-toxic and we feel that this is especially important these days. It provides a very strong anticorrosion barrier on steel hulls and for the GRP hulls it creates an effective osmosis barrier and finally, it has a very high mechanical strength.'

After preparing the hull by soft slorry blasting the GRP surface, the Subsea Industries application team applied two layers of Ecospeed using normal air-less spray equipment. These layers gave the desired result of 1000 microns thickness (due to its properties there is no need for primers or tie coats). The quality control manager of the Navy approved the final result.

This application of the Ecospeed system is just one of a number of different vessels done recently. Its qualities are generating an increasingly optimistic view amongst shipping companies and people who are concerned with the right balance of durability, cost and environmental protection.

Recent tests on another vessel after one year in the water gave results better than expected and have led to an increase in interest and orders.

MJ Information No: 19610