Coatings World - May 2011

A volatile market

While marine coatings manufacturers expressed cautious optimism for recovery from the economic downturn, raw material prices continue to negatively affect the marine coatings market.

“The market was characterized by great optimism the first
half of 2010,” said Tom Evensen, group category manager an-
tifouling, Jotun Coatings. “In the second half it dropped rapidly
due to increasing raw material prices which started to inhibit a
sound profitability for the coatings industry. In 2010 more than
2,000 new-builds were contracted. Today’s general market is
anxious due to the overcapacity of tonnage in the market. The
expectations for 2011 are worse than for 2009-2010.”
years, but with the largest fleet of in-service vessels that the in-
dustry has ever seen, the maintenance and repair market will in-
evitably pick up and may go some way to compensate for the
reduction in newbuilding volumes,” he said.

Marine Coatings Technology
Innovations

Although it is difficult to predict what the future holds for the marine coatings industry, manufacturers have focused on delivering innovative products that will help their customers maintain their bottom line, while delivering performance and environmental compliance.

SeaQuantum X200 is Jotun’s latest development in tin-free high performance self-pol-ishing antifouling technology, based on the latest development in hydrolyzing silyl methacrylate copolymers. According to the company, this copolymer dissolves in seawater at a rate permitting the continuous exposure of fresh antifouling and minimizing build up of leached layers. As a result, the product secures long-term fuel performance by maintaining a smooth surface free of fouling.

Jotun recently announced findings from a
three-year study involving SeaQuantum X200.
“Jotun has developed the monitoring tools and
analysis method to prove SeaQuantum X200’s
ability to dramatically lower fuel costs over
time,” said Evensen. “By using sensors to cap-
ture information from different data points,
Jotun has a basis to calculate fuel savings over
time. Based on this data, Jotun can offer Hull
Performance Solutions customers a guarantee
that SeaQuantum X200 will provide a clean hull
and less than 1.5 percent speed loss or maxi-
mum 4. 5 percent increase in fuel consumption
over 60 months, compared to the condition of
the vessel after dry-dock. Either we deliver on
high performance, or we return the additional
investment in SeaQuantum X200.”
Sherwin-Williams offers a number of in-
novative products for the marine coatings in-
dustry. SeaVoyage Copper Free is its latest
introduction to the marine coatings industry.

This copper free antifoulant is designed for long-term service and deters both soft and hard fouling.

Also in Sherwin-Williams’ portfolio is Euronavy ES301, which can be applied with no dew point restrictions over damp steel surfaces and over flash-rust, reducing application time and costs. Coating can occur immediately after hydroblasting or other water preparation methods without drying. Euronavy ES301 also features good edge retention, low VOC and is HAPS-free.

Another product is Sher-Release, a foul release two-coat coating system that creates long-term serviceability and fuel savings for large ships, according to the company. Lastly, Fast Clad ER is a 100 percent solids epoxy amine coating for immersion service in seawater ballast tanks. It features a rapid return to service, low VOC levels and good edge retention.

International Paint, an AkzoNobel company, introduced a number of new products in 2010. First it launched a new range of universal primers for the newbuilding market to address the productivity, regulatory, performance and commercial needs of shipyards and ship owners alike. “Ship builders and owners can now better choose how they meet productivity and performance targets and comply with the International Maritime Organization’s Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC) and new regional regulations limiting VOC emissions, such as the EU’s Solvents Emissions Directive,” said Westcott.

Intershield 803 Plus is a new cargo hold
coating specifically designed to address the
key issue of impact damage from the loading
of dry bulk cargoes. Intershield 803 Plus de-
livers impact resistance and provides general
abrasion resistance, corrosion protection, VOC
compliance with 75 percent volume solids,
fast drying times and all year round workabil-
ity. The product has a smooth surface for easy
cleaning, is certified for the carriage of grain
and is FDA compliant.