The long-awaited publication of the International Standards Organisation guidelines for measuring hull and propeller performance has now been published.
Initial hopes for the ISO suggested that it might provide a means of comparing the efficiency of hull coatings, though this was never the stated aim. In fact the ISO aims to provide a more realistic goal of providing measurement standards by which changes to the hull (including coatings) and propeller can be assessed for performance and fuel impact.
ISO 19030-1:2016 “Ships and marine technology — Measurement of changes in hull and propeller performance — Part 1: General principles” has now been published by the International Standards Organisation is now available for download from the ISO website.
Jotun, who were a driving force behind the development of the Standard, say they believe it can make a $30billion impact on the industry through reduction of the industry’s green house gas emissions by 10%, while saving operators fuel costs.
ISO 19030 has been more than three years in the making. It has seen a collaboration of 53 expert stakeholders from throughout the industry working together to develop a uniform framework for measuring the efficacy of solutions improving hull and propeller performance. Jotun, a global leader in marine antifouling coatings, has been central to the process, with Geir Axel Oftedahl, Jotun Business Development Director, Hull Performance Solutions, managing the project for its entire duration on behalf of ISO.
“This is a day of celebration for all stakeholders in, and connected to, the global shipping industry,” he comments. “Poor hull and propeller performance accounts for around 10 per cent of the world fleet’s energy costs (USD 30 billion) and green house gas (GHG) emissions. With this standard we can finally quantify how solutions, such as advanced antifouling coatings, can tackle that issue – providing accountability and ROI for shipowners, while detailing the enormous potential for GHG and cost reductions.
“The standard provides a transparency that has been lacking in the industry and will be a central driver for enhancing environmental performance and vessel efficiency. I’d like to congratulate all the key players involved in this process, especially Svend Søyland, formerly of Bellona and now with Nordic Energy Research, who has convened the ISO working group, Standards Norway, including Knut Aune, who has served as the secretariat for ISO 19030, and, of course, ISO itself.
“This is a huge leap forward for shipping and the environment, and it would not have been possible without an extraordinary spirit of collaboration and consensus.”
The standard offers a two tier methodological approach: ISO 19030-2, the default measurement method, with the most exacting requirements and greatest measurement accuracy; and ISO 19030-3, allowing for ‘alternative methods’ and included in order to increase the applicability of the standard.
“Jotun, for its part, already adheres to the most stringent demands of ISO 19030-2,” notes Stein Kjølberg, Jotun’s Global Sales Director, Hull Performance Solutions. “We use it as the foundation for the High Performance guarantee on our Hull Performance Solution (HPS) offering. As the guarantee concerns a very small speed loss, under 1.5%, only the most precise measurement criteria will suffice. For less demanding performance levels ISO 19030-3 is acceptable.
“We believe this kind of guarantee provides the perfect illustration of how ISO 19030 provides complete transparency and accountability for shipowners.”
In developing the standard, the ISO working group met across more than three years and spent over 12,000 hours refining the methodology for publication.