Damen Dunkerque to automate coatings application

The application of hull coatings is a highly skilled task, leading to frustration among manufacturers of hull coatings. Despite some enormous technological leaps in chemistry and materials science, an antifouling coating is still only as good as its application, with poor applications leading to faster-than-promised hull fouling build-up and reduced ship performance.

As well, application of such coatings often releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are hazardous to the shipyard employees working on the coating.

Damen hopes that its new coatings robots will address these concerns. As well as high-pressure water and grit blasting, the robots are expected to apply the new coatings more judiciously than would be possible by a human, thereby using less paint overall.

As well, risk is reduced to shipyard workers, who need only intervene for 20-minute tool and nozzle changes between jobs. 

Damen Shiprepair managing director Jeroen Heesters described the purchase as “a significant leap forward” for DSDu. “We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability in ship repair, and achievements such as the 90% recycling of the water that the AMBPR robots can deliver gives us a competitive advantage with ship operators who are looking to reduce their own ecological footprints.”