Exactly one year after a test patch was coated with Ecospeed on the underwater hull of M/V Oden, the icebreaker returned to drydock in Landskrona, Sweden. The vessel had been to both the North and the South Pole during that year and the area applied with Ecospeed was still fully protected by the coating.

When Ecospeed was first applied to the test patch, another ice-strength paint was applied to a comparable part of the hull.  The test areas were chosen because they would be subject to extreme mechanical forces when crushing the thick ice of the Polar sea. The icebreaker went into drydock for  its first inspection after an expedition to Greenland and the North Pole. According to the captain, the vessel had to use its maximum engine capacities on several occasions to break ice patches several meters thick. During this drydock inspection it was evident that only the Ecospeed coating maintained its original condition with no loss of layer thickness or any other mechanical damage.

While corrosion and other paint damage caused by ice impact was apparent elsewhere, on the surfaces protected by Ecospeed it was non-existent and the coating was unquestionably the best choice for protection in these extreme conditions.  The owner then decided to have the rest of the underwater hull of the vessel coated with Ecospeed and also to order the same treatment for M/V Oden’s sister ship, the icebreaker M/V Ymer.

As both vessels are  in drydock for a very short time between expeditions, only a part of the underwater hull can be coated during each visit to the Landskrona Shipyard. However, an application with Ecospeed can be very easily adapted to the specific needs of customers and the schedule of their vessels. After a new expedition, this time to the South Pole, a second patch of 500 m2 was coated with Ecospeed in Landskrona. The application was performed by subcontractor Premator who did an excellent job. Next month the coating of M/V Ymer will start.

Ecospeed can provide the exceptional mechanical strength necessary to achieve the essential durable protection required by vessels sailing in ice. The coating demonstrates successful resistance to extreme ice conditions and excellent attachment to the hull, much to the surprise of OSM Shipmanagement who had to repaint their vessels every year up until now.