About Us
Offices
Partnerships
Meet the team
Shipowner
Charterer
Ports & Terminals
Financial
RightShip is pleased to welcome International®, AkzoNobel’s marine coatings brand, to the Zero Harm Innovation Partners (ZHIP) Program. With a shared focus on safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency, this partnership reflects the importance of collaboration in supporting the maritime industry’s transition toward lower emissions and improved vessel performance.
International® brings more than a century of experience in developing high-performance marine coatings, delivering solutions that support vessel efficiency, environmental protection, and long-term asset performance across a wide range of ship types and operating conditions.
Supporting Energy Efficiency Through Advanced Hull Coatings
As part of RightShip’s long-standing approach to recognising energy-saving technologies, advanced hull coatings play an important role in reducing hydrodynamic resistance and supporting improved vessel efficiency. To support shipowners who invest in proactive hull management and advanced coating technologies, RightShip has adopted internationally recognised ITTC guidelines to support the consideration of coating performance within its GHG Rating methodology. Where the application of an energy-saving (ES) coating is evidenced, this may be reflected in the GHG Rating, supporting greater transparency for charterers seeking vessels with strong energy-efficiency performance and a reduced environmental footprint.
Through the ZHIP Program, the Intersleek® range of biocide-free, foul-release coatings from International® is recognised as a coating technology that can deliver energy-saving benefits where application is evidenced and may be taken into account within RightShip’s GHG rating methodology. This includes Intersleek® 1100SR, a class-verified technology that has helped shipowners reduce more than 47 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions and save over US$9 billion in fuel costs over the past decade, according to AkzoNobel.
How Foul-Release Coatings Support Vessel Performance
Foul-release coatings such as Intersleek® are designed to create an ultra-smooth, low-friction hull surface that marine organisms struggle to adhere to. Unlike traditional antifouling systems, these coatings do not rely on biocides. Any fouling that does occur is weakly attached and can be removed through normal vessel operation, helping to reduce drag, improve fuel efficiency, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Intersleek® coatings are also designed to support long-term performance across docking cycles, making them ideal for slow-steaming and warm-water operations. By reducing paint consumption over a vessel’s lifetime and avoiding biocide leaching, these coatings contribute to both operational efficiency and environmental protection.
Collaboration as a Practical Pathway to Lower Emissions at Sea
International® joined the Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program to collaborate with industry stakeholders on advancing solutions that support a safer, cleaner, and more efficient maritime industry. Through participation in the program, International® aims to contribute to constructive discussions around vessel efficiency, emissions reduction, and the role of innovative coating technologies in supporting industry decarbonisation goals.
Their focus aligns with the broader objectives of the ZHIP Program: encouraging transparency, fostering innovation, and supporting informed decision-making across the maritime value chain.
Looking Ahead
The Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program brings together organisations working across different areas of maritime operations, each contributing solutions that support safer and more sustainable shipping. By welcoming International® to the program, RightShip continues to build a collaborative ecosystem that recognises credible technologies and supports industry progress toward zero harm.
We look forward to working with International® and our wider network of partners as we continue to promote transparency, innovation, and improved environmental outcomes across the global maritime industry.
Join us
If your innovation has the potential to redefine the maritime industry, we invite you to submit your application and become part of a global movement towards a safer, greener future.