GAC EnvironHull scoops Innovation title at Lloyd's List MEISC Awards

Diver-free hull cleaning technology recognised

Dubai, 14th December 2015 – GAC EnvironHull walked away from Wednesday night’s 2015 Lloyd’s List Middle East and Indian Subcontinent (MEIS) Awards ceremony with the accolade for Innovation Technology. 

It’s GAC EnvironHull’s third win this year, following its prize in the “Environmental Protection Award (Marine)” category in the International Bulk Journal (IBJ) Awards in Antwerp, Belgium, and the “Technical Innovation” award at the Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia in Hong Kong.

The latest award was presented to GAC Dubai’s Meena Matthews, Regional P&I Manager – Middle East, in recognition of the HullWiper hull cleaning system’s ground-breaking technology which delivers the benefits of a foul-free hull quickly, conveniently, economically and without risk to human life or the delicate marine environment.

The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) uses adjustable pressure sea water jets, not divers with brushes, to clean the hull. It collects the debris for environmentally-sound disposal instead of discharging it into the sea. And because no divers are involved, cleaning can be done alongside during loading or discharging operations.

Lars Bergstrom, GAC Group Vice President, Middle East says: “This latest award is yet further acknowledgement by the industry of the stringent measures we have taken to provide a safe and ecological hull cleaning option to the shipping sector. Innovation is one of our driving forces and we will continue to focus on providing world-class solutions to ship owners and operators.”

HullWiper was launched in 2013, and is now in use at the ports of Jebel Ali, Sharjah and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, Sohar in Oman, Singapore, Spain and in Scandinavia.