Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards 2017 recognizes benefits of brush- and driver-free hull cleaning system Denver, USA - The tangible financial, operational and ecological benefits offered by GAC EnvironHull’s HullWiper has earned it the Product of the Year title in The Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards 2017. GAC’s Andrew Boaz accepted the accolade last night at the Environmental Leader Conference in Denver, Colorado, USA. The Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards recognize excellence in products, services and projects that provide companies with environmental, sustainability and energy management incentives and advantages. Launched in Dubai in December 2013, the diver- and brush-free HullWiper Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) delivers a foul-free hull with little or no down-time, whilst preserving both the delicate marine eco-system and human life. It uses water jets to remove fouling rather than brushes or other abrasives which can damage expensive coatings and collects debris from the operation for environmentally approved disposal on land, thus reducing the risk of cross-pollination of waters with alien species. HullWiper’s award is based on scores from a panel of distinguished judges with in-the-trenches experience in environmental management. They described it as a “unique product with tangible benefits” and “a good example of taking a process, asking how to improve, and to develop new equipment that incorporates safety, reliability, improved efficiency/cost, and environment all in one product”. It was praised it for its “definite impact on the bottom line in both the effects of its use and the cost of its use, making it more likely for ship operators to perform the task”. Ultimately, the incentive of saving money also helps save the environment from unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. HullWiper’s recognition in the Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards is the eighth major industry accolade for GAC EnvironHull. Managing Director Simon Doran welcomed the honor: “This Award adds to our growing collection of accolades and it is once again thanks to our colleagues who have maintained faith and support as we lead the way in ROV Hull Cleaning, as well as our industry peers who have recognized the benefits of HullWiper. This honor gives us an even greater incentive to continue our hard work and Research & Development to make hull cleaning safer and more environmentally friendly, whilst also extending the life of a vessel’s coating system.” HullWiper has been approved for use at ports in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and more than 550 hull cleaning operations have been conducted to date.