PPG marks milestone with 50th electrostatic marine coating order

The latest initiative will see the VLCC Sidr, a 336-meter oil tanker operated by Bahri Ship Management, coated with PPG Nexeon™ 810 antifouling coating. The work will take place at the Asyad Drydock Company shipyard in Oman.

Introduced to the maritime sector just over a year ago, PPG’s electrostatic coating application technology builds on expertise gained in the aerospace and automotive industries. The method boasts superior transfer efficiency compared to traditional airless spraying, significantly reducing overspray and material waste. To maximize these benefits, PPG has tailored its hull coatings for compatibility with this advanced technique.

“Ship owners and shipyards are looking for innovative solutions to comply with stricter environmental regulations and meet their sustainability goals,” noted Sijmen Visser, PPG sales director for marine EMEA, Protective and Marine Coatings. “Electrostatic application is quickly being adopted by large shipping companies and shipyards in regions such as Europe, Singapore, and China.”

Traditional fouling control coatings are typically incompatible with electrostatic application, but PPG’s Nexeon antifouling and Sigmaglide® fouling release coatings are specially formulated for this process. Electrically charged paint particles are directed towards the vessel’s grounded hull, ensuring a precise, uniform application and creating an ultrasmooth, durable finish.

Khalid Alhammad, ship management president at Bahri, highlighted the sustainability advantages of this approach. “Reducing carbon emissions across our fleet is a cornerstone of our environmental strategy,” he stated. “We continuously adopt the latest hull coating technologies to lower vessel emissions. Pairing this with a sustainable application technique is an attractive combination for us.”

The environmental and operational benefits of electrostatic application extend beyond reduced emissions. A recent project at EDR Antwerp shipyard, which involved applying PPG Sigmaglide coating to a Stena Line RoRo passenger vessel, demonstrated a 40% reduction in overspray. This reduction enhances workplace cleanliness, minimises dock cleaning, and lowers costs for shipyards.