AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings business, supplier of International advanced hull coatings, and The Gold Standard Foundation have announced a new and unique methodology to reward the improved fuel efficiency of ships within the international maritime industry.

Certification by The Gold Standard for the first of its kind, peer-reviewed methodology will allow ships to generate carbon credits, thus income, for the CO2 emission reductions they achieve.

The methodology is based on ship owners and operators converting existing vessels from a biocidal antifouling system to the premium, biocide-free advanced hull coating Intersleek. A baseline emission level is determined for the vessel prior to the application of Intersleek with the same data source then used to determine the emission savings after the application of Intersleek. The carbon credits generated are directly related to reduced emissions as a result of reduced fuel consumption.

“This landmark methodology enables ship owners and operators to benefit twice when they invest in Intersleek technology. Firstly, they can increase operational, environmental and energy efficiencies, which reduces fuel costs and emissions and then they can reap the additional financial benefits of carbon credits, which we will share with them,” says Trevor Solomon, Intersleek Business Manager.

Added Conrad Keijzer, AkzoNobel’s Executive Committee member responsible for Performance Coatings: “This pioneering initiative is a great example of how we constantly innovate to bring sustainable value and benefits to our customers. The increased uptake of clean technologies in the international shipping industry forms part of our Planet Possible approach of doing more with less.”

International spent more than two years developing the carbon credits methodology as part of its research into making eco-efficiency technologies more accessible for the wider shipping industry. The company chose to work with The Gold Standard Foundation because it is the highest quality and most trusted carbon certification standard with rigorous sustainability benchmarks over three categories; environmental, social and economic, as well as technological.