A1 Commercial Diving Services - Propeller Polishing.

The propeller of a vessel is just as prone to the detrimental effects of marine fouling as is the hull, and in most cases more so, since the propeller has no anti-fouling coating to discourage marine growth. In fact, relative to the total surface area involved, the effects of marine growth on the propeller have a much greater impact on a vessel's performance - and this applies equally to all vessels, from pleasure craft to large ships.

The most extensive studies concerning the detrimental effects of marine fouling and surface roughness on propellers have been conducted by the British Ship Research Association (BSRA) which reports that "the propeller, with its small surface area, can generate energy losses amounting to half that of the hull." In other words, even though the propeller has a small surface area when compared to the hull, it can account for up to one-third of the energy losses due to roughness or fouling.

Furthermore, studies by the U.S. Navy reveal that "cleaning the propellers alone will result in recovery of 50% of the recoverable fuel penalty due to fouling since the ship was last cleaned." The Navy cleans its military ships' propellers quarterly, and as frequently as every two months in tropical regions. Large commercial vessels will benefit from a similar cleaning schedule.

Having determined the critical importance of keeping a propeller in smooth operating condition, it is apparent that a regular schedule should be maintained for cleaning and polishing the propeller. The fact that the U.S. Navy, ARCO tanker fleet and most of the world's major oil companies schedule their vessels for propeller cleaning twice as frequently as standard hull cleaning is proof of the recognized cost-effectiveness of propeller maintenance when performed on a regular basis.

A1 Commercial Diving Services uses patented high speed hydraulic machines (to 3,500 RPM) to achieve a Rubert A + finish on all surfaces. An improvement of even one Rubert grade can result in significant fuel savings, and when compared to the costs of operating with a fouled or roughened propeller, the actual costs of propeller polishing are quite modest.

A1 Commercial Diving Services can help save you money on your vessel operation costs. Please contact us for more information.