The Cunard-owned Atlantic Conveyor container ship was built by Swan Hunter in Tyne and Wear, UK in 1985. With a length of 234m / 768ft (later extended to 276m / 906ft), she replaced her namesake that was sunk during the 1982 Falklands War.

The ship’s exterior glass was treated on-site in October 1987 with Ritec ClearShield® ’non-stick’, easy-clean glass surface protection to improve visibility in harsh marine conditions. Two years earlier, ClearShield® was applied to glass on another Cunard ship, Queen Elizabeth 2, with impressive results.

Cunard’s then-Chief Officer, J K Brocklehurst, was very impressed with the performance of ClearShield® on Atlantic Conveyor. In a testimonial letter to Ritec in January 1988, he wrote:

“Just a line to say how impressed all on Conveyor are with ClearShield.

The improvement in visibility through our bridge windows, in rain and heavy weather, has to be seen to be believed. A further bonus is not having to use precious man-power to wash the windows… we have just completed two winter crossings of the North Atlantic without having to once wash them manually.

It is truly pleasing to see a product that really lives up to its marketing promises.”

The marine environment is one of the harshest conditions for ordinary glass to be exposed to. But if it is treated with proven ClearShield® that upgrades it to ‘non-stick’ ClearShield Eco-Glass®, you can be sure it is the best protection around!

For more information about ClearShield®, visit www.ritec.co.uk.

ClearShield® ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass surface protection not only resists all kinds of staining and makes glass look pristine for longer, but did you know it is also specified to potentially save lives?

Over the years, Ritec have treated tens of thousands of small glass lens and mirrors used in Oil Mist Detectors (OMDs) with ClearShield®. OMDs are safety devices fitted to crankcases in ships with a certain engine power output or cylinder size. As the name suggests, OMDs detect the presence of oil mist at concentration levels well below the limit at which a catastrophic crankcase explosion can occur that could risk all lives onboard.

It is paramount that the lens and mirrors inside OMDs are kept as clean as possible. This facilitates fast and accurate monitoring to help buy more time and potentially avert a dangerous situation. Here, ClearShield® protection is a major benefit thanks to its proven ‘non-stick’, easy-clean properties. Additionally, with less contaminants adhering to lenses and mirrors treated with ClearShield®, this helps to reduce the likelihood of false alarms.

The treatment of glass lenses and mirrors for oil mist detectors with ClearShield® protection is one of the more niche and unusual applications we have encountered. This goes to show the versatility of ClearShield® and that it can be applied to any kind of glass surface. For more information about Ritec ClearShield®, visit www.ritec.co.uk.

Ritec Marine Services (RMS) have started treating glass on the new NCL Norwegian Prima cruise liner in Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera near Venice, Italy. RMS – the specialist division of Ritec Services based in the Netherlands – have worked on dozens of cruise ships for many leading cruise lines. They offer a unique service to renovate marine glass then protect it with ‘non-stick’ easy-clean Ritec ClearShield® surface treatment using the ClearShield Eco-System®.

Norwegian Prima is the first ship to debut in Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest class of ship – the Prima Class – and is expected to enter service later this year. It is RMS’s 8^th NCL ship to have ClearShield Eco-System® treatment.

Prior to her maiden voyage, the 20,000m² of glass must of course look sparkling once she leaves the shipyard. This is not an easy task considering the kinds of contamination found on glass surfaces which can be difficult to remove. This includes dirt, protective films, paint, fingermarks, and so on. But thanks to the expertise of RMS, they have the necessary experience and tools to ensure the glass will indeed look pristine.

The first stage of the ClearShield Eco-System® is renovation. This involves removing the contaminants from the glass using specialist Ritec renovating products to ensure it is chemically clean. The second stage, protection, is the application of Ritec ClearShield® glass surface treatment. Effectively sealing the glass with an invisible ‘non-stick’ barrier, this resists all kinds of contamination found in the aggressive marine environment including sea salt. The outcome is ClearShield Eco-Glass® which is always easier to clean and keep clean without the need for harsh or abrasive methods or products. Less water and manpower are needed to maintain ClearShield Eco-Glass® which is why RMS are called upon to treat so many newly-built or existing cruise liners.

So with just weeks to go before Prima’s maiden voyage, you can thank Ritec Marine Services and the ClearShield Eco-System® for ensuring the glass will look as good as new!

For more information about Ritec Marine Services, visit www.ritecmarineservices.com.