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For many owners, the main reason to clean a Hull is money. A smooth underwater body lets the ship hold her speed on less fuel, and in a world of carbon rules and charter performance clauses, that matters more than before. In-water hull cleaning in Nagoya is a practical way to get that benefit between dockings.
Published studies show that fouling can raise the power needed to hold a given speed. A light slime film may add a few per cent. A Hull with heavy calcareous growth, such as barnacles, can add much more, and some studies report increases of well over 30 per cent. The exact result depends on the ship, the speed and the condition of the coating. The direction is always the same: a rough Hull costs more to push.
Extra resistance means extra fuel, and extra fuel means extra carbon. Under the IMO's carbon intensity rules, ships receive an annual rating based on actual operation. A fouled Hull can push a ship toward a worse rating. Cleaning is not the only factor, since weather, trading pattern and engine condition matter, but it is one of the few that can be fixed in a day.
Many time charters include speed and consumption clauses. If a ship falls short, the owner may face a claim. A clean Hull helps defend against that. Our before-and-after video shows the condition at delivery and at redelivery, and the report can be attached to a charter file as supporting evidence.
A sensible plan weighs the cost of cleaning against the cost of the fuel penalty. Signs that cleaning may pay for itself include a rise in daily consumption at the same speed, a long idle period in warm water, a change in trade to a hotter area, or a coating that has passed its expected life. An inspection beforehand can tell you how bad the fouling is.
Send us the ship's name, ETA, berth, last cleaning date and any recent speed or consumption data. We plan the Diver team and the time needed. For ships calling at Nagoya on a regular basis, we can set up a repeat plan so the Hull is checked and cleaned at fixed intervals.
There is no single answer, but a few simple checks help. Compare daily fuel use at a given speed with the figure after the last dry-docking. Look at the time since the last cleaning and the trading area. Ask the Diver to film a sample area. If the picture shows growth beyond light slime, cleaning will probably save more than it costs. If the Hull is clean, you have saved the cost of unnecessary work. Always you can reach us
An inspection is a cheap first step. We film the Hull, tell you how much fouling there is and give a recommendation. Many owners start there and decide on cleaning once they have seen the video.
Q1. How much can heavy fouling increase the power needed?
Published studies report increases of well over 30 per cent in the power needed to hold speed with heavy calcareous fouling. A light slime film can add a few per cent.
Q2. What does the IMO carbon intensity rating measure?
The IMO carbon intensity indicator rates a ship each year based on actual operation. A fouled Hull raises fuel use and can worsen the rating.
Q3. Can cleaning be documented for a charter dispute?
Yes. Before-and-after video and a time-stamped report show the condition of the Hull at the time of cleaning and can be attached to charter records.
Q4. How long does a full Hull cleaning take?
For a 180 to 200 m ship, normally 1 to 2 days with a team of divers.
