Ecospeed Challenges Baltic
In December 2006 owners G. Buck Schiffahrts GmbH & Co decided to have the vertical sides, the bow area and the rudder of the general cargo vessel coated with Ecospeed while a traditional paint was applied to the flat bottom. When the ice-going general cargo vessel Ernst Hagendorn came into drydock 2½ years after a large part of its underwater hull had been given an Ecospeed coating, it was decided to apply it to the remainder of the underwater hull as well.
After sailing in the harsh icy conditions of the Baltic area for 2½ years, the vessel went into drydock at the Tosmare Shipyard in Liepaja, Latvia, in May 2009. Only very minor touch ups were needed for the Ecospeed coating which was still in very good condition. Upon inspection of the flat bottom the owners decided to remove the conventional paint and apply Ecospeed. Additional cans were immediately sent to the shipyard so that the Ernst Hagendorn is now sailing with an Ecospeed protective coating on its entire underwater hull.
Ecospeed is an once-in-a-lifetime coating that allows owners to carry out repairs in a far greater range of drydocks as, because no repainting is necessary, the choice of drydock is not limited by the weather conditions. In addition, more yards become available as time and cost in drydock is reduced. Minor maintenance on Ecospeed or cleaning of any fouling can easily be performed underwater or in drydock, always restoring the vessel’s optimal hull condition.