Tanker shipping company Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) has extended its adoption of GIT Coatings’ graphene-based propeller coating, XGIT-PROP, across seven additional crude oil tankers. OSG had applied the coating to one of its crude oil tanker vessels in October 2023, and this initial application reportedly generated performance gains and fuel savings, which were further validated by a third party, with the vessel being tracked along its Pacific trade route.
As a biocide-free hard foul release coating, XGIT-PROP is designed to withstand the particularly rigorous conditions faced by propellers. According to GIT Coatings, the coating overcomes the shortcomings of conventional antifoulings or soft foul release coatings. Combining a strong adhesive primer with a hard foul release topcoat, XGIT-PROP ensures the propeller’s surface stays smooth, the company claims.
GIT Coatings is also working to develop the use of its graphene-based hull coating XGIT-Fuel, pairing it with robotic hull grooming services from a number of approved third-party providers, in a bundle called XGIT-GROOM. GIT Coatings has recently received Lloyd’s Register (LR) enhanced type approval for XGIT-Fuel, which demonstrates that the coating will not degrade with repeated grooming events and the brushes will not damage the coating’s surface.
Philippos Sfiris, head of market strategy and vessel performance at GIT Coatings, comments: “We are seeing a shift in the industry away from reactive cleanings, with more owners adopting the proactive cleaning or ‘grooming’ approach to maintain a clean hull. As the adoption of proactive cleaning increases, so will the need for antifouling coatings that can withstand repeated cleanings, as well as robotic technologies that can perform these cleanings on vessels both in port and in-transit.”
GIT’s vessel performance department offers a pre-screening service, which includes running biofouling risk assessments and grooming feasibility analyses on vessels to determine if they are good candidates for the XGIT-GROOM programme. Once coated, GIT’s team will work with the owner or technical manager to implement the grooming plan, provide insights on port restrictions and give feedback on in-water cleaning footage to ensure the vessel maintains optimal fuel performance.
