How can worn marine paint coatings impact vessel performance?
Services: Non Slip Marine Deck Applications, Ship Deck Protective Paint
Marine paint can impact much more than a vessel’s aesthetic. This specialist coating plays a vital role in enhancing vessel performance, providing corrosion protection and fouling resistance.
If a paint coating becomes worn it can impact the safety and structural integrity of the ship and result in costly repairs.
Key areas for vessel paint
Underwater hulls
Underwater hulls are constantly being immersed into sea water, making them subject to corrosion and the settlement of Sealife. Therefore, the paint coating used must be corrosion-inhibiting, antifouling, abrasion resistant and smooth, because any surface roughness will increases drag resistance, consequently impacting the ship’s speed and reducing fuel efficiency.
Typically, marine paint for underwater hulls used to contain tributyltin (TBT) or cybutryne, biocides which were steadily released from the paints surface into water preventing the Sealife from settling on hull. However, legislations have been implemented to control the sale of these compounds due to their harmful impacts on aquatic life. As a result, many companies are now producing non-biocidal types of anti-fouling paints.
Ship decks
If a ship deck doesn’t have adequate surface protection it can become very dangerous for crew and passengers, especially when the deck becomes wet. Marine deck paint should provide corrosion protection to shield the metal substrate from damage caused by exposure to seawater and salt air. The deck coating should also provide high levels of skid resistance to reduce the risk of accidents. Along with UV resistance to preserve the paints vibrance and maintain its aesthetic appearance.
If a surface coating isn’t correctly specified, it could lead to costly deck repairs, so it’s important to work with a marine paint supplier who understands the real challenges faced day in and day out.
Seawater ballast tanks
Water ballast tanks are an integral part of every marine vessel. If a ballast tank becomes corroded this can impact both the safety and structural integrity of the entire ship. Therefore, paint for seawater ballast tanks needs to be specially formulated to provide long term corrosion protection for the steel substrate of the tank. The coating also needs to comply with IMO PSPC WBT (Performance standard for protective coatings for dedicated seawater ballasts).
Cargo oil tanks
Paint for cargo oil tanks is also subject to regulatory compliance and must adhere with the IMO PSPC COT. These performance standards specify that 2 spray applied and 2 stripe applied coats Epoxy based coatings must be applied in order to provide to protect the integrity of the tank structure against corrosion, chemical attack and cargo contamination.
By investing in high-quality paint coatings and maintenance practices, vessel operators can maximise performance, minimise operating costs, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.