5 Year Track Record for On-Site Box Cooler Re-Coating

SÄKAPHEN recently had the opportunity to inspect and review a set of 31 Box Coolers that had been re-coated on-site within a shipyard in Stavanger, Norway over 4 years ago, which was then only the second project carried out using SÄKAPHEN’s revolutionary ultra-high solids two-pack coating system SÄKATONIT Extra AR-F. The Box Coolers were part of a ROV Construction Support Vessel carrying out subsea operations.

The original scopein February 2018 included the dismantling and cleaning of the Box Coolers to remove barnacles and other marine growth prior to grit blasting to remove the old coating and carrying out a complete re-coating of the Box Coolers with SÄKATONIT Extra AR-F.

SÄKATONIT Extra AR-F, SÄKAPHEN's two-component epoxy hybrid flooding system, provides outstanding resistance to sea water, combined with a hydrophobic surface, resisting adhesion of marine growth thus providing safe, reliable operation of Box Coolers and protection against galvanic corrosion. The Box Coolers are manufactured from Copper Nickel Aluminum (Cu-Ni-Al) and installed in a Carbon Steel (CS) sea chest in the hull.

During dry docking in November 2022 for the 5 Year Class Renewal, all 31 Box Coolers were removed to be cleaned, inspected, gaskets renewed and pressure tested prior to being placed back in the vessel.

The inspection criteria set by the vessel owner was to only carry out pressure washing of the Box Coolers and the results were exceptional. The marine growth was not only less than expected due to the hydrophobic surface but any barnacles etc. present were easily removed. Further inspection showed minimal mechanical damage which was largely caused by routine handling of the Box Coolers during service. Furthermore, neither the Marine Growth Prevention System (MGPS), an Impressed Current Anti Fouling (ICAF) System, nor erosion had any negative effect on the coating. The mechanical damaged areas were duly repaired and the Box Coolers returned to service, reducing an initially planned 21 day schedule to an impressive 8 days!

Coating or re-coating with SÄKATONIT Extra AR-F, extends the life of new or existing Box Coolers. The benefit of carrying out coating application on-site excludes the need for Box Coolers to be transported to Europe for maintenance.

SÄKATONIT Extra AR-F is an ultra-high solids coating material with over 80% volume of solids (VS) and contains no biocidal filler ensuring we move towards a greener, environmentally friendly, sustainable world. SÄKATONIT Extra AR-F is OEM-recommended.