The most reliable tool in hull cleaning
The Piccard Brush-KartTM remains the leader in underwater hull cleaning worldwide since 1985 due to its initial concept and advantages below:
Speed:
The cleaning capacity is 2,500 up to 3,600 m 2 /h in stripes of 1.25m at a speed of 30-40 m. per minute, depending on the fouling. This means that a loaded 270,000 DWT ULCC can be cleaned in 20 hours (if two Karts are used, this time is reduced in 11 hours).
Effectiveness:
The Piccard Brush-KartTMadheres to the vessel’s hull with a suction force exceeding 600 kg. The brushes clamp tightly on the hull for thorough and effective cleaning action (even along the hull curvatures) while the brush bristles remain vertical, ensuring penetration without scratching the paint coat. No other machine can clean the hull surface as smoothly and effectively, from soft fouling to hard barnacles. It weights approximately 150 kg with neutral buoyancy in-water.
Ease of use:
It is operated by only one diver who simply mounts the Brush-Kart TM on the hull and directs it with the steering wheel and the speed control valve. There is no maneuvering or re-positioning as the Brush-KartTM it turns easily around, maximizing results with the minimum diver effort. The diver can immediately check on the cleaning process even in waters with poor visibility.
Reliability and Durability:
It is a simple hydraulic system put together in a rugged construction frame, which ensures reliable operation with the minimum maintenance, thus outliving all known equipment of its kind. All rotating parts are constantly oiled and mechanical parts are waterproof sealed by virtue of its system. All Versions of the Piccard Brush-KartTM are CE certified.
Unique Investment:
The Piccard Brush-KartTM equipment is a unique investment. It can yield extremely high returns in only few hours. Even if one vessel is cleaned per month, the equipment pays itself off in a few months.
Dozens of service stations have been using the Piccard Brush-KartTM system and industry professionals highly comment on its, inter alias, job performance and efficiency, ease of use, durability, and minimum maintenance requirements. Although it is difficult to declare a precise figure, it is estimated that more than 200 Piccard Piccard Brush-KartTM units are in operation today. In many cases, service companies employ multiple units in order to decrease service time even further, or to service different locations.
The history of hull cleaning
Historically, the Western shipping companies (Norwegian, British, German, American, Greek and others) investigated various solutions to the hull cleaning problem since 1972, ending up in the very costly solution of taking the ships out to shipyards. Afterwards, the single brush method was utilized and the hull cleaning became more mechanical.
In 1975, due to heavy demand, there were many types of hydraulic and electrical hull cleaning 3-brush machines. The Brush-KartTM soon became the undisputed leader of its category. The Brush-KartTM machine needs only one diver and is proven throughout the years to be the most reliable and durable system that can possibly be constructed; a DWT 35,000 tonnage ship can be hull-cleaned in six hours with only two divers.
Soon, all the major ports in the United States, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the most important passageways such as Panama, Singapore, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, Cape Town begun using these machines to save fuel and time.
Along the hull cleaning propeller polishing services described here above, service stations around the world usually offer a range of related underwater husbandry services such as inspections through CCTV in lieu of dry-docking for the major Classification Societies, welding/cutting, replacement of anodes, plugging and other jobs. However, the emphasis is placed mainly on the hull cleaning & propeller polishing part of the business because: a) it is the “bread and butter” part of the business that usually leads to the demand of the other related services, b) it offers high profit margins, and c) although it requires a substantial capital investment, the immediate returns result in quick profits.