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Paints and Coatings

Big Data

solution to predicting

coating performance

B
ig Data is the buzz phrase in shipping, from unmanned on investment prior to purchasing is a key part of the decision-
ships to onshore vessel control solutions and shipping making process.

route optimisation software. In pursuit of robust data“Hull coatings play a key role in a vessel’s proitability
and rigorous analysis that can help improve decision-making and sustainability due to the fuel and COsavings that can
2
in the hull coating sector, AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings brand, be delivered and ship owners want tangible proof of the

International, has launched what it claims is the industry’s beneit prior to application. Through Intertrac Vision, we can
irst consultancy tool to predict the impact of fouling control bring a new level of transparency and choice to the industry,

coatings on ship eficiency.working with customers consultatively to ensure that the most
Intertrac Vision is said to provide accurate and transparent effective and appropriate coatings solution is selected for each

predictions on the fuel and CO2 savings potential of fouling vessel within a leet.”
control coatings, prior to application.Dr Barry Kidd, Manager, Hydrodynamics, AkzoNobel’s

The tool, which is a free service for ship owners and Marine Coatings business, said: “The original Intertrac
operators and is delivered via specially trained consultants, system was the industry’s irst tool to analyse where a vessel

was four years in the making with work led by the company’s had historically traded and uniquely overlaid the fouling
own scientists, who collaborated with leading academic and challenges that it has been subjected to in those areas.

commercial research institutes including University College While this promoted meaningful dialogue about fouling
London Energy Institute and more than 30 ship owners and control coating performance further research was needed

operators worldwide.to deliver scientiic models that provide instant, deinitive

Intertrac Vision combines an understanding of total hull and transparent information that predicts comparative
roughness and ‘roughness’ associated with biofouling and uses performance. Intertrac Vision delivers this, enabling ship

studies carried out by computational luid dynamics (CFD)owners and operators to make informed decisions regarding
on different hull forms in order to make accurate predictions fouling control selection prior to application with a full-depth

on the impact of fouling control coatings on the comparative economic and environmental analysis.”
powering requirements of a vessel.The way Intertrac Vision works is that following a meeting

It comprises hundreds of thousands of datasets, with a consultant, individual vessel parameters are processed
making it the shipping industry’s first Big Data solution to and inputted, and then using multiple proprietary algorithms and

accurately predict the performance of a coating technology models, an accurate and detailed assessment of the impact of each
prior to application.potential fouling control coating choice over the ships speciied

“If big data is to be successful in the shipping industry all in-service period is provided. Key outputs include ship’s powering

solutions must be underpinned by transparent and accurate requirement, fuel oil consumption, fuel oil cost, CO2 emission
information,” said Michael Hindmarsh, Business Development predictions and a full cost beneit analysis when comparing

Manager at International.different coatings and surface preparation options. International’s
“When selecting the most effective hull coating technology carbon credits scheme is also incorporated with the tool and if a

for a vessel, having an accurate understanding of the returnship owner upgrades from a biocidal to a biocide-free four release

34 | The Ship Supplier | Issue 68 2016