What an interesting & informative thread! How does underwater scrubbing take place?

@Martin, that is possible to do because the german KG -system,not Intersee loosing their money but the shareholders of the one-ship-company. Last few years a lot peoples lost big chunks or all of their investment because of that.

Anja is laid up at the pile moorings off Wewelsfleth, Gemany in river Stör since October 2014.
Just beside the Peters Shipyard ;-)
Since Sep. '14 she flies the Curacao flag.
Lots of the one-ship companies associated to Intersee have anounced their insolvency, several vessels now trade for other companies.

Ah.... The lovely UBC Sacramento...
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1195038
:=D Tomas

Thx Captain Ted. Interesting info re hull/fuel efficiency.

@Andrecas
the under water surfaces are with time overgrown, but not rusty. No oxygen = No rust
Only area above water and area which come free now and then (load waterline to ballast water line rusting). Of course under water is overgrow (the green stuff one sees in the DD) and barnacles etc,,that slows down a ship considerable, after long time at anchorage, like Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela, one has to go to Aruba anchorage for under water scrubbing. I did that in 2013 ,the regular speed of the UBC Scaramento is normal about 14 kn,,We made barely 7-8 kn. The fuel consumption is high and of course because of the low speed one needs a lot more time from port to port and therefore the cost is high compared with a clean hull

The surface rust looks bad enough. Can only imagine what it's like below the water line. Doubtful she would pass a hull survey (among other probable defects), if performed today...?

Thanks Captain Ted, knew you would come to the rescue!
:D Tomas

Ohhh forgot,,the name has to be clear painted, that might soon be a problem

@Tomas,, there is no rule on painting as in "time"
A lot ships will go this year to DD, but most of them not because they need to or get painted but because of the new ballast water regulation, if a older vessel goes until 31-12-2015 into DD they do not have to install BW treatment plants, and they are good at least until 2018, possibly until 2020, if they go after that date ,they have to install it right away.
The plants cost in the range of 1 million dollar a piece

Totally agree Tomas

Indeed a very very sorry sight. I think she is to be docked this year, as she is buildt 2000, and if i am correct, she is to be docked and painted every five years, correct me if i am wrong. But, really a terrible state.

That's a pitiful state of this vessel... Probably she will be rather sold soon than repaired - Intersee already got rid of many of their vessels.