Halifax-based GIT Coatings has launched a new graphene-based propeller coating system and reported expanded adoption of its hull-coating technology by a major international shipping company.

The company unveiled XGIT-VORTEX, a three-layer propeller coating system, at the recent Posidonia 2026 shipping exhibition in Greece, during a ceremony with classification society Lloyd's Register. GIT said the product is designed to help shipowners maintain propeller performance between drydockings by reducing fouling, resisting cavitation-related damage and preserving surface smoothness over time.

“XGIT-VORTEX reflects the next step in our mission to deliver sustainable, high-performance coating technologies for the global maritime industry,” said GIT Chief Executive Mo AlGermozi in a statement. “As shipowners continue prioritizing efficiency, emissions reduction, and operational flexibility, the industry is increasingly shifting toward technologies designed around long-term performance, sustainability, and measurable operational value.” 

The company said the coating system uses its Amphiphilic Graphene Nanonetwork technology and consists of a foul-release topcoat and a reinforced mid-coat intended to withstand cavitation stress. GIT said the coating can deliver fuel savings of up to 5 percent and is aimed at helping vessel operators reduce fuel consumption, emissions and maintenance costs. The launch follows Lloyd’s Register’s recent type approval of GIT’s XGIT-FORCE graphene-based hull coating. GIT said it has completed about 600 vessel and propeller coating applications globally since 2022 across tanker, bulker and other commercial shipping fleets.

Meanwhile, GIT announced that Singapore-based gas carrier operator BW Epic Kosan is expanding its use of the company’s coating technology. Five BW Epic liquefied petroleum gas carriers have now been coated with GIT’s graphene-based hull coating, with a sixth vessel currently in drydock.

The expanded deployment follows results from a case study presented earlier this year at the HullPIC 2026 conference. The study tracked an LPG carrier for more than a year and found that the vessel achieved an out-of-dock power gain of about 6 percent compared with its previous coating system. GIT attributed the improvement to a combination of its hard foul-release coating, proactive hull cleaning using onboard robotic technology and an advisory service focused on hull-performance management.

The company said the monitored vessel maintained an average hull roughness of 60 to 70 microns after coating application. Inspection footage over the following year showed no hard fouling, while early-stage fouling was removed before it became more established. GIT also reported no visible coating damage after repeated cleaning events.

BW Epic Kosan Chief Executive Officer Jakob Bode said the partnership has allowed the company to evaluate a more proactive approach to hull-performance management.