High-Performance Shipbuilder Strengthens Maintenance Capabilities with Two Industrial Ultra High-Pressure Cleaners

In a strategic move to enhance maintenance and cleaning operations, a globally recognised shipbuilder recently invested in two industrial ultra high-pressure (UHP) cleaners supplied by a specialist cleaning-equipment manufacturer. This acquisition underscores the builder’s commitment to high standards of vessel upkeep, safety, and long-term asset integrity.

Why This Matters

The shipbuilding firm in question is part of the distinguished group that traces its roots to the 1980s and has grown into an internationally recognised shipbuilder, delivering hundreds of commercial, offshore support, crew transfer, patrol and ferry vessels around the world. 
With operations spanning multiple continents and a portfolio including complex defence and offshore-energy vessels, the firm’s decision to procure powerful cleaning machines is a natural step towards enhancing its shipyard maintenance infrastructure.

The addition of two ultra high-pressure cleaners represents an investment not only in cleanliness, but in efficiency, safety, and operational readiness.

About the Ultra High-Pressure Cleaners

The machines purchased come from a well-established line of industrial UHP washers, capable of generating extremely high water pressures — with some models ranging from 300 up to 3000 bar. 

These systems are designed for demanding industrial tasks such as:

• Removing persistent dirt, marine growth, and residues from ship hulls and superstructures.

• Preparing metal surfaces for maintenance or repainting — including jet-washing old coatings, grease, or buildup from steel or aluminium surfaces. 

• Cleaning mechanical components, tanks, propellers, and other hard-to-reach areas typical of large vessels and offshore support craft. 

By using high-pressure water jets (sometimes heated, depending on the model), these washers avoid the need for harsh chemicals or abrasive blasting — reducing environmental impact, operator exposure to hazards, and disposal costs. 

What This Brings to the Shipbuilder

• Enhanced Maintenance Efficiency: The UHP cleaners dramatically speed up cleaning and surface-preparation tasks that otherwise might be labour-intensive, time-consuming, or require chemical treatments. This enables quicker turnaround times when servicing vessels or prepping them for repainting, inspection, or refit.

• Improved Quality and Safety: High-pressure water cleaning ensures thorough removal of contaminants — such as marine fouling, rust, old coatings, or grease — which helps maintain hull integrity, prevent corrosion, and improve operational safety.

• Reduced Environmental and Operational Costs: By relying on pure water under pressure (rather than chemicals or abrasive methods), the shipbuilder avoids chemical waste, simplifies disposal, and potentially reduces long-term maintenance overheads.

• Versatility Across Vessel Types and Materials: Given the company builds both aluminium and steel vessels, the UHP washers offer a flexible solution suitable for multiple surfaces and vessel types — from high-speed crew transfer boats to heavy-duty offshore support vessels.

Strategic Fit with Company’s Global Ambitions

As a shipbuilder that has delivered over 600 vessels to clients around the world, the firm has consistently emphasised quality, reliability, and adaptability.

In recent years, the company has expanded its capability through acquisitions — including a major shipyard upgrade in Singapore that added a 5,000 DWT dry dock and slipway to support larger builds and repairs.

The decision to equip its facilities with ultra high-pressure cleaning capability aligns perfectly with this growth trajectory: as vessel complexity, size and material diversity increase, having robust maintenance infrastructure becomes ever more critical.

Looking Ahead: Long-Term Benefits

With the new UHP cleaners in place, the shipbuilder is poised to reap several long-term advantages: smoother refit cycles, elevated service standards for clients receiving vessels, reduced downtime between builds or repairs, and potentially lower lifecycle maintenance costs. Additionally, this move may pave the way for more sustainable maintenance protocols — an increasingly important consideration in marine and offshore industries.

Given its established reputation and global reach, the firm’s investment in industrial-grade cleaning machines signals a proactive and forward-thinking approach — one that balances performance, safety, and responsible operations.

If you would like to find out more please contact Morclean by phone 01246 471147 or email info@morclean.com.