Hempel launches Hempaguard NB, the first silicone hull coating for newbuilds
Hempel’s latest innovation is designed specifically for shipyard application, bringing Hempaguard’s proven fuel savings and fouling protection to newbuild vessels from day one. This means that vessels can now benefit from Hempaguard throughout their entire service life.
Key messages
- Hempaguard NB brings proven silicone hull coating performance to the newbuilding stage - without the need for pre-or post-delivery dry docking.
- Standing out as a game-changer in the industry, Hempaguard NB is the only silicone coating customised to withstand exposure to the atmospheric conditions of construction.
- Building on Hempaguard X7’s trusted performance, with a topcoat tailored for newbuilds, Hempaguard NB delivers up to 20% fuel savings.
Copenhagen, 2 June 2025: Hempel proudly expands its market-leading Hempaguard range with the launch of Hempaguard NB - a breakthrough high-performance silicone hull coating, designed specifically for newbuild vessels. For the first time, shipowners and shipyards can access Hempaguard’s trusted fuel savings and fouling protection during the construction phase, marking a major step forward in hull coating innovation.
Until now, applying advanced silicone coatings during the newbuilding process has posed logistical challenges for shipowners. Conventional silicone solutions require controlled environments and are typically applied either pre-delivery or in post-delivery dry dockings, both of which cause delays and additional costs.
“Hempaguard NB brings the industry’s most advanced silicone hull coating technology, proven to deliver significant fuel savings and reduce emissions, into the newbuilding phase for the very first time,” says Alexander Enström, Executive Vice President and Head of Marine at Hempel A/S. “Developing Hempaguard NB meant reimagining how silicone coatings are formulated for the construction phase, delivering a solution that maintains long-term performance without the need for post-delivery application. It’s a technical breakthrough that ensures vessels are equipped with proven, high-efficiency fouling protection from the very first day at sea.”
It combines the tried-and-tested performance of Hempaguard X7 with a revolutionary new silicone topcoat, made specifically for newbuilds. This means that it offers the same exceptional performance as Hempaguard X7 - with nearly 5,000 applications and independently verified for its fuel-saving and decarbonisation benefits1. Shipowners can expect up to 20% fuel savings, only 1.2% average speed loss2 and 120 fouling-free idle days
Not only does this give customers premium performance straight out of dock, but also a long-term asset for operational efficiency and regulatory compliance, unlocking the full potential of silicone coatings for newbuilds and giving shipyards a competitive edge.
Hempaguard NB plays a part in Hempel’s Full Picture Hull Management approach - a comprehensive, data-driven perspective to hull performance, shaped by more than a century of experience and close collaboration with the maritime industry.
To learn more about Hempaguard NB go to this page.
####
Press contact:
Alexandra Thiis Billing, PR Manager
Email: communications@hempel.com
Tel: +45 4089 4240
1 In 2024, DNV verified that Hempaguard X7 reduces fuel consumption by 19% and speed loss by 1.4%. Since then, additional performance data has become available, supporting a further reduction in the reported speed loss percentage.
2 Speed loss measurements are used to monitor how much a ship's speed has decreased compared to its optimal or expected speed. This is typically done by comparing the ship's current speed under certain conditions (like a clean hull and calm seas) to its speed after some time in operation, when the hull might be fouled. Speed loss is important because it directly impacts a ship's fuel efficiency and operational costs.
About Hempel
As a world-leading supplier of trusted coating solutions, Hempel is a global company with strong values, working with customers in the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region.
Across the globe, Hempel’s paints and coatings can be found in almost every country of the world. They protect and beautify buildings, infrastructure and other assets, and play an essential role in our customers’ businesses. They help minimise maintenance costs, improve aesthetics and increase energy efficiency.
At Hempel, our purpose is to shape a brighter future with sustainable coating solutions. We firmly believe that we will succeed as a business only if we place sustainability at our heart. Not only is it the right thing to do, it will strengthen our competitive position, make ourselves more resilient and reduce our risk.
Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915. It is majority owned by the Hempel Foundation, which ensures a solid economic base for the Hempel Group and supports cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific purposes around the world.
