Offshore units such as FPSOs, FSOs, FLRSUs, floating off-shore wind turbines and others used for offshore oil and gas exploration, drilling, storage and transport, as well as wind turbine electricity generation need to stay out of drydock for 15, 25 even 40 years. The challenge has been to protect the underwater hull from corrosion and to provide a cleanable surface so that the biofouling that accumulates can be removed successfully and safely to reduce weight and for class inspection (UWILD).

Ecolock, designed specifically to protect offshore vessels for decades without the need for dry-docking, is the answer to that challenge.

It has long been known that glass reinforced hard coatings last longer, are tougher and more resilient, need less repair and replacement and can be cleaned better in the water than any other type of hull coating. Soft coatings such as biocidal antifouling and foul-release coatings do not hold up well. They need to be repaired or replaced often which is not good news for shipowners and operators and particularly offshore operators who need to keep their ships out of drydock. Their antifouling or foul release properties require that the ship move through the water at relatively high speed. On stationary vessels the fouling simply builds up.

Exmar's FLNG Caribbean, later rechristened Tango, was coated with Ecolock at new build. 

Since the early 2000s a hard, cleanable, non-toxic, glass reinforced coating has been available: Ecospeed. Ecospeed is a coating system which combines a hard coating with routine in-water cleaning. The coating holds up for a remarkably long time, even in the ice or other harsh conditions. It can be cleaned as often as needed and becomes smoother not rougher with such cleaning. It has been used in offshore applications with great success.

Our experience with Ecospeed on offshore units led to the development of Ecolock, also a glassflake reinforced coating, but this one intended specifically to meet the hull protection requirements of offshore hulls.

Ecolock is an extremely tough and durable coating designed to remain in excellent condition for 15 - 25 or more years without the need for drydocking, repair or replacement. Ecolock can be cleaned underwater as often as needed to meet the UWILD and weight requirements of FPSOs, drill ships and other offshore vessels. It is completely non-toxic.

(Above) Ecolock is designed to be cleaned as often as needed and despite any degree of fouling without damage to coating or environment.