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Egypt is the latest location offering the HullWiper hull cleaning system. GAC has recently introduced the technology in this key regional market, making it available to vessels berthing at ports in the Suez Canal. The environmentally friendly, remotely operated vehicle has already attended its first vessel, a crude oil tanker, and adds a valuable new service to the existing range of ship agency support provided by GAC in the waterway.
With 60 vessels transiting the Suez Canal daily, the area represents an important market that GAC believes will benefit from HullWiper’s approach to hull cleaning. While HullWiper is suitable for all commercial vessels, the company says it is looking especially to target container vessels calling at Port Said and Port Suez, as well as the increasing number of offshore marine service vessels operating in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Suez.
Simon Doran, HullWiper’s Managing Director, suggests that as a key transit hub, Egypt is the perfect location for the concept. He adds “The country already has a strong reputation for vessel maintenance services such as hull cleaning, and demand continues to grow. Such is our confidence in the market that we are already planning to expand HullWiper’s availability to other Egyptian ports.”
Unlike other cleaning solutions, HullWiper uses seawater under high pressure as a cleaning medium, instead of brushes or abrasives, minimising damage to the antifouling coating. This is designed to optimise performance levels and create energy efficiency savings for ship owners, as well as reducing expenditure needed to recoat the hull. Furthermore, because it eliminates the need for divers, there is no risk to human life, and the operation can be conducted alongside during loading or unloading, day or night, and in most weather conditions.
