No Barnacles On Us, Thanks to UK Type 23 Frigate’s New Coating

HMS Northumberland The Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland began her journey back to Devonport on Aug 11/05, following a year-long, GBP 20 million (USD $36.1 million) refit at Babcock’s dockyard in Rosyth. That refit added a number of combat enhancements, and also made the frigate the first Royal Navy ship to have a revolutionary silicone paint called Intersleek 700 applied to its hull. Now, why does this matter? Until now, toxic substances known as anti-foulings have been used to keep the hull of a ship clean and prevent marine growth from attaching. The International Maritime Organisation banned the further application of Tributyltin (TBT) on ships as of Jan. 1/03, however, with a complete prohibition of TBT on ship’s hulls as of Jan 1/08. TBT alternatives like self-polishing and self-smoothing copper or zinc compounds are unaffected by this ban, but they still rely on deterring marine growth through the release of chemicals into the water. Instead of taking this approach, Intersleek 700 provides an ultra smooth, slippery, easy clean surface that prevents barnacles et. al. from clinging and does away with the need to use toxic chemicals. Its superior smoothness is also claimed to decreases hull friction whilst the vessel is […]