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If you have never ordered hull cleaning before, it helps to know what the day looks like. Here is how a normal hull cleaning in Nagoya Port goes, from arrival of the team to the final report.
You send us the ship's name, ETA, berth and Draft, and we confirm the date with the agent. We ask when the Hull was last cleaned and what paint is on it. The master tells us if the ship will be shifting berth, loading heavy cargo or sailing earlier than planned. We write a short plan and send it back with an estimated time.
The dive team arrives at the berth with the compressor, umbilicals, brush equipment and CCTV. The supervisor meets the chief officer, checks the propeller lock and thruster isolation, and agrees the dive zone. The ship's crew needs to give us only a safe access point, a named contact and a clear view of the Draft marks.
We start with a short inspection to see how much fouling there is. Cleaning follows, section by section, from the waterline downward, so that debris does not fall on areas already done. The Diver uses coating-safe tools and works along a pattern so that nothing is missed. The supervisor watches the CCTV and can stop the Diver if any damage to the paint is seen.
Some places collect more fouling than others: the waterline, the sea chests, the bilge keels, the rudder and the propeller. If the owner wants, we give these extra time. Sea chest gratings are cleaned by hand, and the propeller is brushed or polished if requested.
A full Hull may take 1 to 2 days, while a partial job, such as the flat bottom and propeller, can be done in a few hours. Ships that trade regularly in warm waters may be cleaned several times a year. Ships that stay mostly in cooler water may need it less often. A Hull inspection before cleaning helps decide.
You receive video, photographs and a short written report. If we found damage under the growth, such as a dented plate or a worn anode, it is described and priced separately. The Ship is free to sail as soon as the divers are out of the water and the supervisor signs off.
The most common question is whether cleaning will damage the paint. The honest answer is that it will not if the method matches the coating. The second is whether the cleaning is allowed in the port. We check this with the agent before we start. The third is how long the ship needs to stay. In most cases, the cleaning fits into a normal port call, though a full Hull may need a longer stay.
Tell the crew the dive is planned. The chief engineer needs to lock the propeller, isolate thrusters and warn the engine room. The deck officer needs to keep the access area clear and keep an eye on the Draft marks. With these in place, the team can start soon after arrival.
Q1. How long does it take to clean the flat bottom and the propeller only?
A partial job covering the flat bottom and propeller can usually be done in a few hours, depending on the amount of fouling.
Q2. In which order is the Hull cleaned?
From the waterline downwards, section by section, so that falling debris does not land on areas already cleaned.
Q3. What does the ship need to provide?
A safe access point for the dive control position, a named contact on board, the propeller lock and thruster isolation, and a clear view of the Draft marks.
Q4. Does cleaning delay sailing?
Not normally. The Ship can sail once the divers are out of the water and the supervisor has signed off, though the sailing time should be agreed with us in advance.
