GIT Coatings unlocks a new era of hull performance management
GIT Coatings, a Green Marine partner providing sustainable marine coatings, announced on February 25th the launch of XGIT-FORCE™, its next-generation graphene-based hard foul-release coating. This development supports a shift in the maritime industry away from traditional biocide-based antifouling toward a new era of hull performance management.
First applications are already underway across a global fleet, with the coating designed for fuel savings of up to 10%, demonstrating an environmentally responsible path to enhanced operational efficiency.
"By listening closely to our customers and integrating years of real-world learning, we have refined a technology that is mature, reliable, and biocide-free," said Mo AlGermozi, CEO of GIT Coatings. "This launch is about providing shipowners with a high-performance solution that gives them the flexibility to actively manage fleet efficiency and turn ambitious decarbonization goals into a reliable, competitive advantage."
Innovation behind XGIT-FORCE™
This next-generation coating stems from years of intensive research and development, involving rigorous testing and trials in different fouling pressure conditions worldwide. Its proprietary Dynamic Phase Engineered Technology (DPET) combines smart surface chemistry with graphene-reinforced mechanical tuning to create a dynamic, amphiphilic barrier that inhibits biofilm formation and maximizes foul-release performance.
XGIT-FORCE™ offers one of the smoothest surface profiles available, with a guaranteed 6% out-of-dock power gain over premium biocidal antifouling coatings. It provides mechanical durability against ice friction, fender impacts, and frequent cleanings. As a zero-leaching solution, it ensures shipowners can reduce fuel consumption and emissions without shedding toxic chemicals or microplastics into the marine environment.
Proactive hull performance management
Designed to be cleanable, XGIT-FORCE™ supports the industry's shift toward proactive hull cleaning, which addresses light slime buildup linked to up to 25% higher fuel consumption. While the innovative DPET technology provides antifouling protection during idling and releases fouling while sailing, its resilient surface is specifically built to tolerate regular grooming and reactive cleaning without the degradation typically seen in traditional soft-foul release or ablative coatings.
GIT Coatings has created an Advisory Services department to assist with vessel-specific grooming plans, cleaning providers, fouling risk alerts, and managing the process of cleaning approvals. This turnkey approach ensures that implementing a proactive cleaning regime is a seamless, data-driven, and hassle-free transition for any global fleet.
Immediate global adoption
Over the coming months, XGIT-FORCE™ will be applied to more than ten vessels, including LPG tankers, dry bulk carriers, Ro-Ro vessels, container ships, and cruise ships on major international trading routes. These applications highlight the technology's readiness for demanding operations.
This rollout builds on years of iterative development and real-world learning across more than 600 vessels worldwide. By integrating feedback from early-generation applications, GIT Coatings has refined XGIT-FORCE™ to meet the rigorous performance standards of forward-thinking shipowners looking to transform ambitious decarbonization goals into tangible progress.