The Advantage of Starting Earlier
How Hempaguard NB is reshaping vessel lifecycle efficiency
In shipping, efficiency is often shaped, long before a vessel enters service. Yet hull coatings, despite their proven impact on drag and fuel consumption, have traditionally been treated as a late-stage procurement decision rather than an integral part of vessel performance.
This limits their influence. Vessels may enter service performing below their potential, with efficiency only improving later through intervention. In an interview at Posidonia 2026, Anna Pasiou, Director of Marine Solution Management, and Yigit Demirel, Hull Performance Solution Manager at Hempel A/S explains why improving vessel efficiency increasingly depends on decisions made long before a ship enters service, and how Hempaguard NB is helping move hull performance considerations into the newbuild phase.
Introducing Hempaguard NB
Hempaguard NB reflects a deliberate move to bring hull performance decisions forward. It builds on the proven Hempaguard silicone technology and has been adapted for application during construction, using a topcoat designed for shipyard conditions.
The rationale is practical. By applying a high-performance coating at the newbuild stage, vessels can begin operations with a more optimised hull surface, rather than relying on improvements later in their lifecycle. As Anna described it: “New buildings are a unique opportunity to lock in efficiency gains from day one.”
Yigit placed this in a broader context, explaining that hull performance should be understood as “a complete system and not a single product.” He explains that Hempaguard NB is part of a bigger puzzle that connects design choices with long-term operational outcomes.
From early optimisation to consistent performance
Starting with a stronger baseline can reduce how quickly performance declines in service. Hempaguard NB draws on proven silicone coating behaviour, supporting more stable operating conditions and reducing the need for early corrective action.
Maintaining that stability still depends on how vessels are monitored and managed in service. Data plays a role here, helping operators understand how hull condition evolves and when intervention is necessary. At the same time, regulatory pressure is increasing the visibility of these decisions, linking efficiency more directly to cost and compliance.
Hempaguard NB represents a broader shift: improving hull performance is most effective when it starts before the vessel enters service, not after.
At the heart of every project
