· Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs paves the way for hull cleaning operations
· GAC EnvironHull’s unmanned drones to seek license for green cleaning service at SOHAR
· HullWiper to clean five times faster than traditional methods, and at almost half the cost
Chief
Executive Andre Toet has said the decision to allow GAC EnvironHull
permission to seek a license to operate its remotely operated hull
cleaning systems at SOHAR can revolutionise the industry and put Oman
and its forward-thinking leadership firmly on the world map when it
comes to technological innovation.
The
unmanned, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly remotely
operated vehicle uses the latest in underwater cleaning technologies to
keep ships free from marine fouling and allow owners to optimise fuel
consumption and the overall performance of their vessels. In doing so
they will eliminate damage caused by traditional cleaning, remove risks
faced by human divers, and stop waste being discharged into the sea.
“The
traditional process of brushing can be damaging to the anti-fouling
surfaces of a ships’ hull over time – not to mention quite time
consuming. However, were the EnvironHull ROV to operate at SOHAR, Oman
would revolutionise its shipping industry in the blink of eye. Ships
could be cleaned while cargo is loaded and unloaded, the removal of
harmful marine growth would increase fuel efficiency, and all of that
will have consequences for both health and safety and the global
environment” said SOHAR CEO Andre Toet.
“While
the initial cost of around US$3.5 per square metre is higher than the
US$1.2 spent on divers, when you take into consideration the average
US$6 damage caused to anti-fouling surfaces, the EnvironHull ROV is a
competitive. On top of this, at 1,000-1,500 square metres per hour, it
is also up to five times faster.”
Speaking
about the decision in a recent press release, GAC EnvironHull Managing
Director said: “SOHAR is a natural choice for the next base of HullWiper
due to its strategic location just outside the Gulf and close proximity
to international trade routes. As such, it is a port of call for many
ships carrying general cargo, liquid shipments, and containers – all of
which benefit from the increased efficiency and the cost-savings that
come with a foul-free hull. SOHAR is also home to a branch of GAC Oman,
which [already] provides a range of shipping, logistics, and marine
services to local, regional and international clients,” he said.
Permission
for the pioneering cleaning service to seek a license was effectively
granted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA)
earlier this week, and is part of a broad environmental initiative at
SOHAR. Last month, the port authority’s Environmental Unit entered a new
era of cooperation when it invited 10 MECA employees to participate in a
series of environmental workshops. Earlier this week eighty-five
government leaders, industry officials, and consultants attended the
latest instalment of this ground-breaking new programme. Meanwhile,
having already become the first port in the Middle East to reward green
ships calling at the port, the EnvironHull service means SOHAR is only
the fourth port in the region to offer the service. It also became one
of only 3 locations to offer ship-to-ship LNG transfer services
globally.
