Jotun uses I-Tech’s antifouling active agent in new marine paint products

Jotun, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of marine paint, will use Skeletope in two antifouling products targeting customers within commercial shipping where increased protection against barnacle fouling is needed for idle ships during the outfitting period. I-Tech and Jotun are yet to formalise an agreement that binds orders for the commercialisation.

Jotun will use I-Tech’s antifouling active agent Selektope in the products SeaQuantum Pro Ace and SeaForce Active Ace. These are the first products launched by Jotun that contain Selektope.

Philip Chaabane, CEO, I-Tech, said: “Jotun’s choice to use Selektope is yet more evidence of our product’s prominent features and efficiency. I’m pleased to recognise that Jotun has introduced Selektope in two different product families bringing extreme performance for repelling barnacles from the hull and creating new opportunities for a range of different vessels at the new build phase and subsequent operations.”

With this product introduction, Jotun becomes the third official customer to integrate Selektope as a key ingredient into advanced and fuel saving antifouling paints available to globally trading vessels.

Selektope is an organic, metal-free antifouling active agent added to marine coatings to prevent barnacles from settling on the coated surface by temporarily activating their swimming behaviour with non-fatal effect. This unique antifouling active agent delivers superior efficiency in extremely low concentrations (approximately 0.1% per wet weight of paint = only a few g/l of paint).

The importance of reduced emissions

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has committed to reducing emissions from commercial shipping by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. Reduced hull biofouling will be one of the key factors required to achieve this target since even small amounts of biofouling on the hull can contribute to a significant increase in fuel consumption. Climate change will also lead to increased sea temperatures which in turn will accelerate biofouling risk.

“Antifouling paints will be one of the key technologies required to achieve the IMO 2050 CO₂ emission reduction targets. Selektope, with its high efficacy, precision and reduced environmental impact, will play a vital role in solving this challenge for the shipping industry,” Chaabane concludes.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/shipping/19032020/jotun-uses-i-techs-antifouling-active-agent-in-new-marine-paint-products/