The first Aframax oil tanker to use wind-assisted propulsion has been built in China, with AkzoNobel making an important contribution to the landmark project by supplying 350,000 litres of its International brand marine coatings.
The Brands Hatch is regarded as a major innovation in sustainable shipping technology and the entire vessel – including the underwater hull, deck and cargo oil tanks – features the company’s high-performance products. These are expected to provide comprehensive protection and critical technical assurance for the tanker’s eco-efficient operation.
Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, the vessel has three intelligent glass fibre sails which are projected to reduce fuel consumption by around 12% a year and cut annual carbon emissions by 5,000t under normal operating conditions.
Rob Leslie, Commercial Director, Marine and Protective Coatings, AkzoNobel Greater China, said: “We’re very proud to have contributed to this landmark project. The successful application of our coatings not only validates the performance of our International fouling control and anti-corrosive technologies, but also demonstrates the company’s commitment to enabling decarbonisation through sustainable innovation.”
The products used included Intercept 8500 LPP – considered one of the highest-performing fouling control technologies in the International range – which was applied to the vessel’s underwater hull. This advanced coating is formulated to deliver consistent and effective performance for a clean, foul-free hull. By combining linear polishing technology with an optimised biocide package, the coating contributes to significant fuel savings and reduced CO₂ emissions.
Built for UK shipping company Union Maritime, the Brands Hatch is an Aframax ship, a type with capacity between 80,000 and 120,000 dwt, primarily used for short to medium-haul crude oil transportation.
This is said to be the third milestone vessel built in China to be coated by AkzoNobel in recent years. The company supplied more than 300,000 litres of International marine coatings for Dream – the country’s first domestically designed and built ultra deep-sea drilling vessel – while Intersmooth fouling control technology was used on Adora Magic City, the first large cruise ship to be constructed in China.
Image: Aframax tanker with wind assistance and International coatings (source: AkzoNobel)
