Tweet

Hornblower Vessel Volunteers for Second Round of Copper-Free Hull Paint Testing

Monday, 04 April 2011
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 341-5684

If you spot the Newport Hornblower in San Diego Bay and are wondering about its distinctive multi-colored paint job, it’s standing out for a reason.

The vessel just began a second-round of testing for copper-free hull paints. In fact, since 2009, the Newport has served as a testing platform and has participated in the Port’s alternative hull paint testing and research efforts to find effective alternatives to copper-based hull paints.

The Newport – with the white and black painted stripes, the beige and blue stripes and even red stripes – is one of seven vessels operated by Hornblower Cruises & Events. Hornblower is a Port of San Diego tenant and charter yacht service that offers public dining, the charter company was founded some 30 years ago.

“We as a company like to be ahead of the game with technology,” said Jim Unger, Hornblower Vice President. “We’re looking at copper-free hull paints that take less maintenance, stay on the boat longer and hold up better than copper paints,” he said. “We are looking into options that fit these needs and find the balance between sustainable business practices and sustainable environmental practices.”

The Newport Hornblower’s testing program began two years ago, when 10 of the copper-free hull paints from the Port’s EPA-funded Alternative Hull Paint study were applied as stripes on the side of the vessel. 

New copper-free hull paints were applied for this round of testing.  Testing will run for another two years, when the Newport will be due for repainting.

In 1996, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board found high levels of dissolved copper in the Shelter Island Yacht Basin. As a result of the copper pollution, the water board ordered that copper be reduced in the yacht basin by 10 percent in Shelter Island waters by 2010 and 76 percent by 2022. This regulation identified copper hull paints as a major source of copper pollution.

Copper hull paints are widely used by boat owners, because they help prevent the growth of marine organisms, known as fouling, from boat hulls.  Fouling can decrease a boat’s performance, increase fuel consumption, and could potentially damage the boat hull itself. Since 2008, the Port has been actively testing a variety of copper-free hull paints with the goal of finding hull paints that protect the environment without reducing a boat’s performance.

Hornblower Cruises was one of the first to become involved in the Port’s efforts to reduce copper pollution in San Diego Bay.

Unger said that the first round of testing, completed in December 2010, identified a couple of copper-free hull paints that appeared to perform well, and he is eager to see results from the second round of testing.

“If we can find copper-free hull paints that seem to perform well, we will have done our part,” Unger said.

The Port developed the Copper Reduction Program to address copper pollution bay-wide.

View Video in New Window