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The antifouling coating on a Hull is expensive, and it is designed to wear away slowly. A careless cleaning can remove years of its life in one day. That is why the first question we ask when someone books a vessel hull cleaning service in Nagoya is simple: what paint is on the ship?
These paints release their active ingredients as a thin layer wears off in the water. They work well, but the layer is soft. Hard brushing can strip it faster than the designers intended. For these coatings we use soft brushes at low pressure, enough to remove slime and light growth without taking off paint. We watch the brush on camera and stop if the colour of the water behind it changes.
Hard coatings are tougher and can take firmer cleaning, including stiffer brushes and in some cases scrapers on heavy growth. They do not polish away, so fouling that is allowed to build up needs real force to remove. We still start gently and increase only as the coating allows. The maker's data sheet guides us wherever it is available.
Silicone-based foul-release paints are smooth and slippery. Organisms find it hard to hold on, and a light wipe is often enough. These coatings are also easy to damage with sharp tools, and a scratch can become a fouling point. We use soft cloths or very soft brushes and avoid scrapers. If the owner has special instructions from the paint maker, we follow them.
Sometimes the ship's records are incomplete. In that case we clean a small test patch, film it and look at the result before moving on. If the coating shows signs of wear, we reduce pressure or change tools. The test patch costs little and protects the paint from a wrong choice.
Our video shows the Hull before cleaning, the cleaning in progress and the result. If any paint was removed, the report says so and shows where. Owners can use this record to decide when the next coating job is due and to answer questions from the paint supplier.
Send us the ship's name, ETA, berth, last cleaning date and the paint type if you know it. We reply with a plan, a time estimate and a price. Cleaning can be combined with a Hull inspection, a propeller polish or anode work in the same call.
Ships that call at Nagoya on a fixed rotation can follow a simple plan. After the first full cleaning, a short inspection and light cleaning at every second or third call keeps the paint in good order without heavy brushing. This reduces wear on the coating and keeps the Hull smooth between dry-dockings. We keep the record of each visit so the plan can be adjusted.
Q1. Which coating type needs the softest cleaning?
Self-polishing coatings and silicone foul-release coatings need soft brushes or cloths at low pressure, because hard brushing or sharp tools can damage them.
Q2. What if the ship’s coating type is not known?
We clean a small test patch, film it and examine the result before continuing. This takes a few minutes and protects the paint.
Q3. Can a cleaning remove antifouling paint?
It can if the wrong tool or pressure is used. We match the method to the coating and report any paint removal with photographs.
Q4. Can cleaning be combined with other work?
Yes. Hull inspection, propeller polishing and anode replacement are often done in the same call to save time.
