ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
- No use of chemicals (reduced consumption of chemicals in the marina)
- Eliminates the need for toxic antifouling coatings!
- Complies with antifouling regulations, supports users to stop using toxic antifouling coatings!
- All toxic waste (generated in the cleaning process) is collected in the basin under the machine and disposed of safely!
- Reduced fuel consumption contributes to reducing greenhouse gases!
- Mechanical brush washing is a recommended environmental strategy as the only alternative to toxic coatings! *
* As recommended by WWF (World Wildlife Fund, 2016) and the Swedish Maritime and Water Administration (2016)
No chemicals are used in the technological process of cleaning boat hull using the Drive-In Boatwash system. The whole process is exclusively mechanical, and the hydraulic oil used is biodegradable. Therefore, there is no fear of pollution even in the event of a machine breakdown caused by bad weather or vandalism.
The product of mechanical cleaning is fouling removed from the boat hull. All contaminants are collected in a basin located below the entire length of the dock. Pollution is periodically (at least once a year) disposed of in the prescribed manner, by companies authorized to dispose of this type of waste.
In all studies done on the topic of preventing overgrowth of the boat hull, it was concluded that mechanical cleaning with brushes is one of the currently most acceptable environmental methods of solving this problem. In extensive studies done on the topic was concluded that there is essentially no difference in marine pollution depending on whether boats coated with toxic coatings are periodically cleaned with brushes or not, because over time, unfortunately, it all ends up in the sea.
Regular use of these machines also enables the coating of boats exclusively with environmentally friendly hard coatings based on epoxy resin that do not release copper and zinc into the sea (primarily to protect boats from osmosis). The product of mechanical washing of such boats are essentially completely environmentally friendly, non-toxic contaminants.
Hull brushing, as recommended by WWF (World Wildlife Fund, 2016) and the Swedish Maritime and Water Administration (2016), offers a real alternative to the vessel antifouling industry.
“All marinas where vessels are regularly raised and / or washed should offer a hull washing solution. In the long run, antifouling coatings should be completely abolished and the development of brush washing machines is an important part of that. ” (* Report of the Swedish Water and Marine Management Agency 2012: 10).
The introduction of a ban on toxic protective coatings is planned by the European Commission, this method is a much-needed and acceptable alternative.
Drive-In Boatwash machines are already in use in many of the most developed countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Canada, the United States. the impact of toxic coatings on the environment at Vollen Marina sponsored Drive-In BoatWash free boat cleaning throughout 2018, with the only condition that boats do not use toxic coatings. In this pilot project, the aim was to point out alternative, ecological ways of solving the problem of fouling. The project was a complete success because in that year alone, 1150 boats accepted this method.
Surveys of machines manufacturers showed that the services of individual marinas reduced the use of coatings by 180 kilograms per year, and 90% of users continued to use their services. With the cleaning service, employees will introduce and educate service users about environmentally friendly cleaning methods. Also, during cleaning, no chemicals are used, but mechanical brushes, which reduces pollution in marinas and ports and leads to the recovery of microorganisms in these areas.
The process of cleaning ships with mechanical brushes does not have a harmful impact on the environment, but affects the strengthening of environmental protection.
Experiences of users abroad have shown that their ships after cleaning with this method achieve higher speed and consume between 10 and 40% less fuel, and thus emit less greenhouse gases, which reduces damage to the atmosphere and the effects of global warming.