Azra Tech coating cuts fuel use and CO₂ on Diana Shipping vessel

By AI, Created 10:25 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Azra Tech says its biocide-free hull coating delivered certified efficiency gains on Diana Shipping’s Panamax vessel m/v Crystalia, including lower power demand, higher speed and reduced emissions. The results strengthen the case for ultra-low-friction coatings as a practical decarbonization tool for shipping.

Why it matters: - Azra Tech’s hull coating is designed to reduce fuel burn and emissions without using biocides. - The Crystalia results give shipping operators a real-world example of how coating technology can improve efficiency on an operating vessel. - The reported gains also matter because they were strong enough to support a new EEXI Vref technical file certification by Class.

What happened: - Azra Tech, through Swiss subsidiary Azra Advanced Materials AG, said its coating was applied across multiple vessel types and is now deployed on Diana Shipping vessels including the Panamax m/v Crystalia and the Capesize m/v G.P. Zafirakis. - The company said the technology had already been adopted by 25 customers representing a combined fleet of more than 2,500 vessels. - The Greek market rollout was enabled through exclusive representative Green Navis. - Post-application sea trials showed an 8% reduction in required power at equivalent speeds versus the newbuilding sea trial. - The same trials showed a 2.7% increase in vessel speed.

The details: - Operational data collected over 22 months showed an overall fuel efficiency improvement of more than 10%. - Between June 2024 and Jan. 31, 2026, the Crystalia avoided about 1,973 tons of CO₂ emissions. - Projections for 2024 to 2029 estimate total CO₂ reductions of about 5,660 tons. - Diana Shipping said in its 2024 ESG Report that two vessels using Azra coatings saved 526Mt of fuel and reduced CO₂ emissions by 1,641Mt. - Azra Tech said the Crystalia’s EEXI improvement certified by Class was a meaningful contribution to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 14: Life Below Water. - Azra Tech described the coating as durable, ultra-low-friction and biocide-free.

Between the lines: - The certification outcome is important because shipping buyers often want efficiency claims backed by class-reviewed technical files, not just lab results. - The combination of fuel savings, speed gains and emissions reductions suggests the coating may help owners improve compliance and operating economics at the same time. - Diana Shipping’s public ESG disclosure gives the performance claim extra visibility beyond a vendor announcement.

What’s next: - Azra Tech is likely to use the Crystalia results as proof of performance for additional vessel conversions and new customer adoption. - The company’s projected emissions reductions through 2029 suggest it expects the coating to continue delivering savings over time. - Regional partnerships, including Green Navis, may remain central to expanding the technology in new markets.

The bottom line: - Azra Tech is positioning its hull coating as a measurable decarbonization tool for shipping, with certified efficiency gains and multi-year emissions savings already recorded on a Diana Shipping vessel.