Warship Innovation Turns Grey Type 45 Green

BAE Systems, GLASGOW, UK: BAE Systems has introduced two innovative schemes on the Type 45 destroyer programme, which have had a positive impact on the environment, saved tens of thousands of pounds and won the company an environmental best practice award. 
 
The first of these processes has been the adoption of an innovative powder coating process for component parts of each ship to replace traditional solvent based paint and significantly reduce the amount of solvents emitted into the atmosphere. 
 
The company has also changed the specification of other paint required on the ships from solvent-based paint to water and epoxy based paints. This has led to far greater levels of recycling as the paint tins are no longer classed as special waste and are now disposed of as scrap metal. 
 
These changes have resulted in: 
 
– A reduction of 12,600 litres of paint across the Type 45 programme – enough to fill 5,040 large household tins or cover 126,000 square metres – – the equivalent of 12 football pitches 
 
– Cutting landfill by 326 tonnes per year as paint tins are no longer classed as special waste and can now be recycled 
 
– A reduction of 10 tonnes of volatile organic compound emissions per year (VOCs are a major cause to global warming) 
 
– A financial saving to the business of tens of thousands of pounds 
 
As a result of these changes, BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions on the Clyde has been ranked amongst the green and the good of the UK business community, winning a Business Commitment to the Environment UK Best Practice Award. 
 
BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions Type 45 managing director Jim Imrie said: “For heavy industry, and in particular warship building, to win this type of accolade is no mean feat. 
 
“Our business is committed to reducing the impact we have on the environment by making the most of initiatives which cut landfill and chemical emissions. 
 
“These innovative new ideas have even turned rubbish into revenue as the paint tins can now be recycled, which wipes out our waste removal charges. 
 
“It is vital for the company to drive forward new schemes which promote best practice, particularly those which endorse the core requirements of Defence Industrial Strategy and are cost-competitive to the customer.” 
 
BAE Systems expects to introduce the new paint processes to other programmes, which will create further environmental benefits.  
 
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.