Coatings News

Pioneering marine and protective coatings brand International®, part of AkzoNobel, celebrated its 35th year anniversary in China during an event in Shanghai in October 2024. First registered and founded in 1989 in partnership with Shanghai Huayi Fine Chemicals and China State Shipbuilding Equipment & Materials Corporation Ltd, International Paint of Shanghai Co., Ltd. has since established three production facilities in China, 17 distribution centres, and employs over 100 technical serv...

Propspeed, a globally renowned innovator of underwater foul-release coatings, announced it has appointed Nautilus Yacht Equipment as its single-entry point for all Propspeed existing and future partners in Greece and Cyprus, effective January 1st, 2025. Focusing on yachting and light-commercial customers, Nautilus will act as importer, local warehouse, and a training and service centre for Propspeed in this growing market.  Nautilus's commitment Nautilus has been a trusted Propspeed part...

PPG has announced its 50th order for the electrostatic application of marine fouling control coatings. The project will be carried out on the VLCC SIDR, a 336-metre oil tanker operated by Bahri Ship Management at the Asyad Drydock Company shipyard in Oman, using PPG NEXEON™ 810 antifouling coating on the hull.  Electrostatic coating applications Leveraging decades of experience in the aerospace and automotive industries, PPG introduced electrostatic coating applications to the ship...

Chevron Marine Lubricants, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, has further extended its global supply capacity to include Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This expansion notably enhances the company’s ability to serve vessels taking the longer route to avoid current conflict areas. It also represents a strategically important addition to Chevron’s distribution network in the southern region. Customer service and supply The expansion has been made possible through close collaboration...

LENOL and FUCHS LUBRICANTS GERMANY GMBH are pleased to announce the successful anniversary of their two-year collaboration.  "FUCHS has been a strong partner, providing unwavering support and strategic partnership right from the start," said Jan Thiedeitz, CEO at LENOL DMCC. Marine lubricant brand Stefan Knapp, CEO of FUCHS LUBRICANTS GERMANY GmbH, expressed his confidence in the joint efforts, stating: "Our past achievements in marine have laid a solid foundation. Now, as we embark on t...

AkzoNobel’s International® marine coatings brand has announced a series of updates to Intertrac® Vision, a revolutionary digital forecasting tool. The latest enhancements include CII rating prediction, EU ETS cost impact and detailed breakdowns of cost savings across multiple dry-dockings, all designed to further support data-driven decision making on fouling control coatings for global vessel operators. Intertrac® Vision Intertrac® Vision analyses in...

AkzoNobel’s International® marine coatings brand has announced a series of updates to Intertrac® Vision, a digital forecasting tool designed to enable data-driven decision-making on fouling control coatings for global vessel operators. Intertrac® Vision analyses proprietary International® performance data across 200,000 drydocks and now with the addition of 10,000 vessel operators.  Intertrac® Vision Harnessing the predictive capability of Artificial Intell...

Armacell, a global pioneer in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market and a provider of engineered foams, will present its comprehensive range of thermal and acoustic insulation solutions for the first time at the SMM (Shipbuilding, Machinery, and Marine Technology) trade show. The event, known as the world's major trade fair for the maritime industry, will be held on 3-6 Sept. 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Armacell will showcase its innovative insulation and firestop solutions in Hall B5...

Easy Filtration SRL (Easy Filtration), an Italian company that distributes process filters and associated services, will become part of Atlas Copco Group. Easy Filtration Easy Filtration, located in Milan, was founded in 2013. The company has 9 employees and provides filter cartridges for air, gas, and process liquids, filter housings, and clean-in-place systems.  The main customer groups are present within the industrial coatings, chemical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. Op...

International®, AkzoNobel’s marine coatings brand has announced that a new cable-laying vessel, the Monna Lisa, owned by Prysmian, is to be coated in the Intergard® 7500 primer and Intersmooth® 7465Si antifouling solution. This decision is estimated to reduce the vessel’s carbon emissions (CO2) by 672 tonnes over the dry docking period and lower Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) by more than 11 tonnes during construction. By utilising Intergard 7500, a high-solids un...

The performance of Hempel’s cutting-edge silicone-based hull coating solution, Hempaguard X7, and its ability to accelerate decarbonisation efforts in the maritime industry are now third-party validated by DNV. Since its launch in 2013, Hempaguard has provided vessels around the world with significant energy efficiency compared to the industry average and contributed to substantial reductions in carbon emissions. With this external validation by DNV, Hempel is now better able to demonstra...

PPG announced a collaboration with RightShip, a digital maritime sustainability platform, as part of Rightship’s Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program. The initiative aims to foster the development and adoption of innovative solutions to promote a more sustainable future in the maritime industry. PPG’s revolutionary PPG SIGMAGLIDE® 2390 biocide-free silicone fouling release is the only hull coating to be approved by RightShip’s rigorous product review process for the Zero...

Stolt Tankers is expanding implementation of Shipshave’s In-Transit Cleaning of Hulls (ITCH) solution across its fleet after seeing significant fuel savings of over 10% from initial trials of the innovative technology to boost energy efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint and cut emission costs. Fleet sustainability As the world’s largest operator of chemical tankers, Stolt Tankers is adopting a range of technologies to enhance the sustainability of its fleet towards the goal of r...

PPG announced that EDR Antwerp shipyard achieved a 40 percent reduction in overspray with the electrostatic application of PPG SIGMAGLIDE® 2390 fouling release coating. The project was carried out on the underwater hull of the RoRo passenger vessel Stena Transporter from Stena Line and is the second successful electrostatic application project for EDR. PPG Sigmaglide coating Electrostatic application has increased transfer efficiency compared to airless spraying Electrostatic application...

Valenciaport has participated in the III International Forum on Marine Litter and Circular Economy – MARLICE 2024, held in the Veles e Vents building in the city of València, from 22 to 24 May 2024. Specifically, the participation of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has focused on the session ‘Tourism and marine litter: strategies for a positive impact’. In it, the need to train and raise awareness among employees of tourism companies – shipping and hotel comp...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to two elemental technologies of ‘CMP-MAP’, ‘Performance estimation method of ships based on hull roughness and fouling condition’ and ‘Performance and operational analysis solutions’, provided by Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd. (CMP). ‘Performance estimation method of ships based on hull roughness and fouling condition’ is a technology that estimates the impact of each antif...

In a proactive move towards energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, Pacific Basin, a dry bulk shipping company, has decided to apply a sustainable graphene-based propeller coating, XGIT-PROP, across its entire fleet. This innovative coating, developed by Canadian company GIT Coatings, has demonstrated the potential to enhance vessel performance by up to 4%, which also makes it a highly effective solution to improve CII and RightShip GHG ratings. Decarbonisation initiative Followin...

International® Marine Coatings has published a new whitepaper that reveals the high degree of accuracy of its predictive Intertrac® Vision tool to real-life vessel operations by correlating to the speed loss of a globally trading VLCC vessel over a five-year docking period, in line with the principles of the ISO 19030 standard. International® used the forecasting tool to project a 1.4 percent speed loss over a 60-month in-service period which proved to be in line with actual ve...

The 18th Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), held from 13 to 15 March 2024, welcomed an unprecedented number of 15,717 attendees in Singapore. This figure surpassed attendance records of previous editions, signifying a positive revitalisation of Asia Pacific's maritime sector and solidifying Singapore's position as a pioneering maritime hub. Held at the Marina Bay Sands, the event showcased an extensive range of 710 exhibitors and featured 150 industry speakers worldwide. This year's theme, 'Future of...

In just two weeks, the highly anticipated 18th edition of Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) is set to herald the largest gathering of the global maritime value chain in Southeast Asia. Networking and delegation visits From 13 to 15 March 2024, over 1,400 global brands will be present at the conference and exhibition, spanning 17 pavilions across six expansive halls of Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.   From closed-door networking sessions and delegation visits to product launches and busines...

Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), the largest meeting place in Southeast Asia for the global maritime value chain, will return for its 18th installment in Singapore from 13 to 15 March 2024 at the Marina Bay Sands.  The premier exhibition and conference is expected to bring together more than 14,000 shipowners, shipyards, ship management, and technical procurers to meet over 1,400 solutions providers.  Solutions and services “For the past few months, we have been reconnecting with...

Technology group Wärtsilä introduces EvoTube, a revolutionary and patented advancement in Shaft Line technology for marine propulsion systems, reducing risk and simplifying operations. While based on a conventional stern tube, the EvoTube is a significantly simplified system with fewer components than a conventional stern tube system.  The inboard seal is mounted directly on the aft bearing housing, and the forward bearing is replaced with a standalone bearing inside the eng...

A seamless application of shipping’s first antifouling coating to successfully integrate highly durable graphene provides further evidence that Gibdock’s remains ahead of the curve as a ship repair and conversion yard geared up for a sustainable maritime future. The Gibraltar yard recently hosted the Vulica Shipping Company-owned bulk carrier - Donald M James for a 30-day project, which brought a first opportunity to work with a new type of coating from GIT Coatings (Graphite Innova...

According to the new “Value of Reliability” survey from ABB, over two-thirds of industrial businesses experience unplanned outages at least once a month, costing the typical business close to $125,000 per hour. Despite this, 21 percent of businesses surveyed still rely on run-to-fail maintenance. Managing maintenance The survey, conducted by Sapio Research in July 2023, gathered responses from 3,215 plant maintenance decision-makers globally across the energy generation, plas...

Ship operators can reduce their fuel use and emissions output by using Silverstream Technologies' air lubrication system (ALS) with AkzoNobel’s fouling control coatings, a new white paper has revealed. Marine industry experts from both businesses have collaborated to show that a combination of air lubrication and the right fouling control coatings can reduce hull resistance and increase efficiency to give vessel owners a “clear competitive edge”. Ship’s frictional resis...

In July 2023, at MEPC 80, the IMO adopted the '2023 Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships'. This strategy targets the adoption of near-zero GHG fuels by 2030. A pivotal factor in this transition is choosing the right coating for fuel tanks — it ensures longevity and maintains the tank's optimal condition. Shipping companies invest a significant amount of consideration into the choice of coating systems for their vessel's fuel tank interiors. A failure in this coating can h...

Faced with tough competition for greener fuels from other sectors, new 2030 maritime emission targets hang in the balance. According to the latest edition of DNV‘s Maritime Forecast to 2050, the shipping industry will find it challenging to secure enough supply of carbon-neutral fuels. The report emphasises the need to consider all alternative approaches to reducing emissions and to take action now to secure future success. Carbon emission reductions Maritime sector needs to access a st...

Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters (HEMEXPO), a major suppliers and exporters association for the international shipping sector, has reached an agreement with the world’s renowned classification society, DNV, for the assessment of energy-saving devices (ESDs) produced by HEMEXPO member companies. Stepwise ESD assessment Under the terms of the agreement, in the first instance, DNV will review a makers list provided by HEMEXPO to identify ESDs that fall in the category o...

Shipowners face an ultimatum in 2023, upgrade their Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) technology to comply with new laws or scrap their vessels. CII data from 2022 must have been calculated and reported to the Data Collection System (DCS) verifier and sent by March 21, 2024, and 30% of ships simply don’t have the technology onboard to do it.  New carbon targets The move comes as the International Marine Organization (IMO) in July announced new carbon targets, which include a 20% red...

When a 9,280hp workboat returned to service following extensive repairs at the James Marine Paducah River Service yard in Kentucky, U.S.A., it marked the first application of Thordon’s new seal-embedded bearing to an articulating rudder. Articulating rudders Articulating rudders are unlike conventional rudders and can be more costly to repair, when things go wrong. They are more susceptible to wear and tear, due to the higher operating pressures and abrasives, and as a result, require a...