LR becomes first classification society to approve compatible cleaning and coating system, supporting maritime industry’s proactive hull management strategies.

Lloyd’s Register has awarded the world’s first Recognised Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval to Jotun’s SeaQuantum Skate antifouling coating, alongside type approval certification for the HullSkater hull cleaning equipment.

The approval, announced at Nor-Shipping 2025, covers both the HullSkater robotic cleaning device and the SeaQuantum Skate coating, making it the first fully integrated hull cleaning and coating solution to be certified by a classification society.

Jotun’s HullSkater is a remotely operated robotic cleaner designed to remove early-stage biofouling without damaging antifouling coatings. It is always paired with the SeaQuantum Skate coating, and together it forms a fully compatible cleaning and coating regime.

The Recognised Enhanced Type Approval is the highest level of certification under LR’s Antifouling Coatings programme. The Recognised approval status, now achieved by Jotun, is based on extensive in-service performance data from at least three vessels. This includes inspection reports before and after cleaning, time-to-refoul measurements, coating condition assessments, and third-party water quality testing conducted during the cleaning process. Recognised approvals are valid for five years and can be renewed with continued performance evidence.

Type approval of the HullSkater cleaning equipment is based on the cleaning performance, electrical and mechanical equipment fit-for purpose and data from water sample analysis in the vicinity of operation versus background samples.

The LR approval provides verified operational guidance to ship operators, specifying appropriate cleaning heads, optimal pressures, recommended cleaning cycles, and maximum allowable fouling levels before intervention becomes necessary. The certification identifies unsuitable cleaning methods, protecting both coating integrity and performance.

LR developed the Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval to bridge the regulatory and scientific gap in hull cleaning practices, ensuring that ship operators have access to objective, evidence-based guidance. It also enables vessels to qualify for LR’s Clean Hull (CH) notation under the ECO class, which requires an Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval for any applied coating.

Heather Hughes, Principal Specialist at Lloyd’s Register, said: “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.”

Morten Fon, CEO of Jotun, said: “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.”