Lloyd’s Register has become the first classification society to certify a fully integrated hull cleaning and coating system, awarding this recognition to Jotun and supporting the maritime industry's shift towards proactive hull management strategies.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded the world’s first Recognised Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval to Jotun’s
SeaQuantum Skate antifouling coating, in tandem with type approval certification for the company’s HullSkater hull cleaning system.
Announced at Nor-Shipping 2025, the approval encompasses both the HullSkater robotic cleaning unit and the SeaQuantum Skate coating, marking the first time a complete hull cleaning and coating solution has been certified by a classification society.
Jotun’s HullSkater is a remotely operated robotic device developed to remove early-stage biofouling without compromising the integrity of antifouling coatings. It is specifically engineered to work in conjunction with the SeaQuantum Skate coating, creating a fully compatible and effective hull maintenance regime.
“Ship operators are approaching LR seeking authoritative guidance on which coatings can be effectively used as part of their comprehensive hull management planning. We provide independent verification of antifouling coating performance both before and after cleaning, ensuring operators can make informed decisions with confidence,” has commented Heather Hughes, Principal Specialist at Lloyd’s Register.
The Recognised Enhanced Type Approval represents the highest tier of certification within LR’s Antifouling Coatings Programme. This prestigious status, now attained by Jotun, is underpinned by comprehensive in-service performance data collected from a minimum of three vessels. This includes pre- and post-cleaning inspection reports, time-to-refoul analyses, assessments of coating condition, and independent water quality testing carried out during the cleaning process. The approval remains valid for five years and is subject to renewal based on continued performance evidence.
The HullSkater’s type approval is based on demonstrable cleaning efficacy, the fitness-for-purpose of its electrical and mechanical components, and water sample analyses comparing areas of operation with background levels. LR’s certification also offers practical, verified operational guidance for ship operators, detailing suitable cleaning heads, optimal pressure settings, recommended cleaning intervals, and thresholds for permissible fouling before intervention is required. It also defines unsuitable cleaning methods, thereby safeguarding coating durability and long-term performance.
The Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval was developed by Lloyd’s Register to address both regulatory and scientific gaps in current hull cleaning practices. It provides shipowners and operators with reliable, evidence-based guidelines and paves the way for vessels to achieve LR’s Clean Hull (CH) notation under its ECO classification. This notation requires the application of a coating system holding Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval.
“This approval validates the long-term performance of the HullSkater and SeaQuantum Skate. We’re proud to set the standard for integrated solutions that protect both vessels and the oceans they operate in,” has added Morten Fon, CEO of Jotun.