Marine news: Norwegian cruise line goes biocide-free with Nippon Paint Marine

Nippon Paint Marine has announced the application of its unique biocide-free self-polishing coating (SPC) Aquaterras to Riviera, a luxury cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH).

This application of Nippon Paint Marine’s award-winning Aquaterras product follows pre-pandemic testing on NCLH’s vessels. After almost two years of the vessels being exposed to static, pandemic-enforced operation in a fouling rich marine environment, Aquaterras demonstrated superb resistance to fouling and marine growth.

The coating was applied to Riviera (66,172 GT) in dry-dock at Chantiers Naval de Marseille. Aquaterras was applied to the vertical sides of the ship. The average hull roughness measured after the application was a significantly low 40 microns. This extreme smoothness will provide reduced friction between the hull and the water and will help NCLH to maximise fuel savings and reduce emissions. Aquaterras’ excellent biocide free fouling resistance properties will assist in mitigating possible ecological issues arising from biofouling and species migration.

Nippon Paint Marine has been working closely with NCLH for more than a decade to provide antifouling systems for cruise ships operating under the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.