How Life Extension and Conversion Redefines “Born Again” in U.S. Ship Repair
            We are well into the discussions advising shipbuilders and operators how the U.S. will create a renaissance of the maritime industry. Federal Legislation, Executive Orders, and new foreign partnerships driving the promise of commercial competitiveness with the leading global shipbuilders. Most of the shipbuilding rhetoric indicates the domestic markets will be left to survive on their own. This despite the fact the domestic operators and builders have proven to be the strongest…
Denso Unveils Anti-Corrosion System for Marine Structures
            Denso, a corrosion prevention and sealing technologies specialist, has introduced the SeaShield Series 2000HD, a corrosion protection system designed for piles and pipes in coastal and offshore environments.The system combines petrolatum tape with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) outer jacket and is intended for use on dock piles, riser pipes and exposed piping in splash and intertidal zones.It accommodates cylindrical, square, hexagonal and H-pile shapes, along with bracing…
DNV Qualifies Subtera’s CUI Detection Tool
            DNV has completed the technology qualification (TQ) of Subtera’s passive terahertz sensor technology designed to detect corrosion under insulation (CUI) and the trapped moisture that causes it, a pervasive challenge in industrial plants.CUI is a leading cause of asset failure in industries such as oil and gas and chemicals. It has contributed to over 20% of major oil and gas accidents in the EU in the past 35 years, posing significant safety, environmental, and financial risks.Developed over a decade by Subtera…
Steelpaint Warns Against Carbon Emissions of Steel Corrosion
            Germany-based corrosion specialist Steelpaint is calling for urgent action to address the significant environmental impact of steel corrosion, warning that inadequate corrosion protection is contributing more to global CO2 emissions than the entire aviation industry. With the maritime industries consuming an estimated 100 million tonnes of steel annually, premature corrosion and subsequent steel renewal work is increasing carbon emissions dramatically, said Steelpaint’s Managing Director Klaus Müller.Steel production remains one of the most carbon-intensive industrial processes.
APC Names Liu Global Tech Services Manager
            Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC), the Ohio, USA-based manufacturer of protective tank coatings for chemical and product tankers, appointed Daniel Liu as its new Global Technical Services Manager. Liu is an 18-year veteran with APC, most recently serving as the company’s Technical Services Manager for East Asia and Western Pacific Region.APC is on a strong growth trajectory, aiming to quadruple its manufacturing capacity with a new state-of-the-art automated manufacturing system.
Steelpaint Inks Deal to Refurbish Emden Lock
            Emden’s Great Sea Lock (Große Seeschleuse) is to be protected from corrosion with a Steelpaint coating system following a contract award by the Lower Saxony Port Authority (Niedersachsen Ports) as part of a refurbish and renewal project. The lock will remain operational throughout the upgrade, which will take about 10 years to complete.The $105m project will involve constructing new reinforcements to optimize flood defense, new transformer stations, a reserve gate and a cable pull system.Steelpaint will supply a comprehensive coating system for approximately 50,000 sq.
Talking Marine Vessel Coatings with Christer Øpstad, Jotun
            Sourcing and maintaining marine coatings systems are arguably a shipowner’s most critical means to ensure a long and productive lifecycle for ships, boats and offshore rigs. At the same time, coatings have become a central part of the ship efficiency, decarbonization discussion. Christer Øpstad, Global R&D Director Fouling Protection, Jotun, discusses how these macro trends are driving R&D within his laboratories today.To start us off, can you provide a ‘by the numbers’ look at Jotun today?Jotun is headquartered in Sandefjord, Norway, still a family-owned company founded almost 100 years ago.
Marine Coatings and Breaking with Tradition
            There’s a tendency for owners to stick with the coatings they are familiar with, but environmental concerns, particularly regarding marine biodiversity, are providing fresh opportunities for them to reconsider.Measuring hull coating performance from noon reports yields around 350 data points over a five-year docking cycle after including full loaded sailing days and excluding adverse weather days etc.But it’s become a more sophisticated challenge now that owners and operators have to factor in decarbonization regulations…
Slime Time: Actively Monitoring a Vessel's Hull Slime
            Slime build-up is a costly drag on fuel efficiency for ocean-going cargo ships, leading to more emissions and, eventually, higher consumer prices. A recent study, however, suggests a new approach to managing this common problem.Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology developed a model for estimating the speed and extent of biofilm growth, which could enable ship operators to schedule hull cleaning at optimal intervals to save on fuel consumption.Cornelius Wittig, a PhD student in fluid mechanics at KTH…
Electrostatic Attraction: Milestone Order for Unique Coating Application
            PPG announced its 50th order for the electrostatic application of marine fouling control coatings, to be carried out on the VLCC SIDR, a 336-m oil tanker operated by Bahri Ship Management at the Asyad Drydock Company shipyard in Oman, using PPG NEXEON 810 antifouling coating on the hull.PPG introduced electrostatic coating application to the shipping industry just over a year ago, and the technique is designed to provide an increased transfer efficiency compared to airless spraying…
Steelpaint Logs First Job with Chinese Shipowner
            Xiamen Minhua Shipping has specified a Steelpaint corrosion protection system for a trio of newbuild multi-purpose cargo ships building at Fujian Shipbuilding’s yards in China. The order marks the Germany-based coatings specialist’s first newbuilding contract with a Chinese shipowner.The first vessel in the series, the 12,000dwt Min Hua 9 delivered from the Fujian Hengsheng shipyard in June, is now operating with a Stelpant-PU-Zinc universal primer protecting steel cargo holds…
Subsea Global Robotic Hull Cleaning gets the Green Light in Singapore
            Subsea Global Solutions reports that authorities in Singapore have granted approval of its hull cleaning services for vessels, allowing underwater cleaning to take place while vessels are engaged in cargo work at the terminal. The approved cleaning procedure requires the use of a Cleaning Remotely Operated Vehicle (C-ROV) equipped with an integrated filtration plant, designed to capture and reclaim materials, ensuring compliance with Singapore’s stringent environmental regulations.
GIT Coatings Earns 'Industry-first' LR Type Approval
            Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted the maritime industry’s first Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval to GIT Coatings.This new approval establishes a benchmark for antifouling coatings, responding to the increasing demand for effective biofouling management. Such advancements are crucial for decarbonization initiatives and for the protection of marine ecosystems.As the first classification society to offer this service, LR provides ship owners and operators with verified assurances regarding the performance of antifouling coatings…
PortPic Gathers in Italy to Discuss Hull Cleaning
            This week [September 30 to October 2] about 40 companies, stakeholders and NGOs gather in Pontignano, Italy, to discuss and share insights about the developments taking place within hull cleaning and in-port inspections for the shipping industry.PortPic, the sister conference to HullPic which takes place in the spring, is a Jotun and VB Conferences initiative and aims to bring the industry together to discuss challenges and opportunities to ensure a cleaner industry."This is the fifth time that PortPic has been held, and we see the conference as an important meeting place for the industry.
Carboline Names Juanjo Ardid President
            St. Louis based coatings manufacturer Carboline announced it has named Juanjo Ardid as company president. Ardid succeeded Chris Tiernay, who led the company since late 2016, on June 24.Ardid had been employed by PPG since 1993 before joining Carboline. He was most recently based in Pittsburgh, Pa., as Vice President of Protective and Marine Coatings for the U.S. and Canada. Other prior roles include General Manager for Global Automotive Adhesives and Sealants as well as market director roles for Europe…
Hempel’s Hempaguard Marine Coating Earns DNV Validation
            The performance of Hempel’s silicone-based hull coating solution, Hempaguard X7, and its ability to accelerate decarbonization efforts in the maritime industry are now third-party validated by DNV.According to Hempel, external validation by DNV allows it to better demonstrate the value of Hempaguard to its customers, including energy efficiency gains and carbon emissions reductions.“At Hempel, we’ve long known that Hempaguard stands out in the industry for its superior performance and environmental benefits, helping our customers save costs and improve their bottom line.
Hempel Names Barriau Chief Technology Officer
            Hempel announced it has hired Emilie Barriau as Chief Technology Officer, a new position in the Executive Group Management, bringing a dedicated focus on innovation. The new Technology Executive Vice President area comprises R&D, Procurement and Sustainability to serve as mutually reinforcing powerhouses of innovation.Barriau is an internationally experienced senior innovation executive who spent 15 years with Henkel Adhesives Technologies, serving Transport, Metals and Electronics industries in various global roles.
Finnlines Adopts Graphene-based Hard Foul Release Hull Coating
            Finnlines has turned to a innovative graphene-based hard foul release hull coating to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across its ro-ro and ro-pax fleets.After starting with its first vessel in 2022, the Finnish shipping company has already applied GIT Coatings' XGIT-FUEL low-friction hull coating to four vessels as part of a recently signed fleet agreement, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by around 7% compared to previously used coating.Over the past decade, Finnlines…
Optimizing Blast and Paint Processes in New Construction Shipbuilding
            The efficacy of surface preparation and coating application in the new construction shipbuilding industry is fundamentally anchored in a well-coordinated, integrated approach. This intricate process, essential for achieving top-tier corrosion control, is methodically segmented into five crucial stages:Raw material entryPainting the modulesSmall partsPainting of erection joints at the module levelFinal paint and ship's completion. Each stage is crucial in its own right but achieves…
Marine Coatings: GIT and WEG Partner
            Brazil-based WEG Coatings and Canadian-based GIT Coatings have entered an agreement to strengthen each other’s marine coating product offerings across international markets.The partnership aims to accelerate market adoption of green solutions in the marine market such as GIT’s graphene-based coatings. Both companies will leverage each other’s strengths and expertise to enhance product offerings and provide tailored solutions to their customers. GIT Coatings CEO, Mo AlGermozi, said…
PPG Unveils New ‘Ultra Low-Friction’ Vessels Coating
            PPG has launched the PPG NEXEON 810 coating, described as an innovative copper-free antifouling coating developed with a strong emphasis on vessel performance, emissions reduction and sustainability.Independent tests, following ISO 19030 and International Towing Tank Conference standards, have confirmed that the ultrasmooth surface of PPG Nexeon 810 coating can yield an immediate boost in power of up to 10% and enhance operational efficiency by up to 15%, according to PPG.This is due to improved fouling control performance…
New UTM Payload Available for Scout 137 Drone System
            ScoutDI has added an ultrasonic thickness measurements (UTM) payload, complete with in-flight A-scan, to the capabilities of its end-to-end inspection data solution for the Scout 137 drone.The product is suitable for offshore applications where drones are becoming common for visual inspection and steel plate thickness sampling must be done regularly to monitor e.g. the effects of corrosion over time.Adding the UTM payload enables the Scout 137 drone to collect location-tagged…
Shipshave’s ITCH Put to the Test
            Independent laboratory testing reportedly confirmed there is no decrease in the thickness of hull coatings from the use of Shipshave’s In-Transit Cleaning of Hulls (ITCH) solution, according to the company.The Endures laboratory in the Netherlands was enlisted by Norwegian technology developer Shipshave to perform tests to investigate the impact on the thickness and roughness of anti-fouling coatings from repeated brushing with the ITCH system.A number of coated panels treated…