90 months of hull protection from Nippon Paint
(Posted on 28/06/21)
The operators of bulkers and containerships are discovering the high quality of Nippon Paint. Owners of a large 72,300dwt containership delivered in 2013 found Nippon’s low-friction LF-Sea hull coating to be in pristine condition after more than 90 months of service.
The boxship drydocked for the first time in May 2021 after operating for seven-and-a-half years. It dry-docked at a shipyard in the Far-East, where Nippon Paint Marine carried out a thorough coating performance assessment.
Nippon Paint Marine’s inspectors reported that the vessel’s 13,000m2 underwater area was in “excellent condition” with no fouling observed. Only between 1 and 5% primer was exposed due to the polishing effect of the antifouling coat.
No hard fouling of any sort was detected on any underwater area of the hull protected by the LF-Sea system.
Nippon’s hull monitoring study showed that, on average, the vessel operated in waters of 23.6°C (average), at service speeds of between 12 and 18kts. The ship was moored or idle for 20% of the 90-month period.
An advanced A-LF-Sea coating applied to Yaya Goose, a 60,425dwt bulk carrier operated by Niovis Shipping, showed similar levels of performance after 60 months in operation.
When the vessel drydocked last month at the Neorions Shipyard on Syros Island, Greece, Nippon Paint Marine’s inspectors found the vessel’s hull foul free, with the 2016-applied coating almost intact.
Nippon Paint Marine (Europe) Deputy Managing Director Niko Yamanoue said: “You can see from the photographs inspectors have taken prior to high pressure washing just how effective this coating is. The images provide clear and demonstrable evidence that investment in A-LF-Sea really pays dividend for shipowners.”
Prior to entering drydock, Yaya Goose was operating at an effective median speed of 11.4kts, frequently in high sea temperatures, on average of 24.8°C.
As of December 2020, Nippon Paint Marine has applied its advanced low-friction A-LF-Sea coating to 3,598 commercial vessels.
The paint incorporates a patented water trapping technology to lower the hydrodynamic footprint of the hull, resulting in a stable, self-smoothing copper-silyl-acrylate copolymer designed to significantly reduce ships drag.
Nippon Paint Marine Europe Director John Drew said: “With shipowners looking to reduce emissions through low fuel consumption an A-LF-Sea application delivers a greener, competitive advantage to our customers.”
Compared to other antifouling paint, the combined effect of Nippon Paint Marine’s hydro-gel and rheology control technologies is proven to deliver up to 10% reduction in a ship’s frictional resistance.
Latest News
Damen delivers Combi Freighter to Reederei Gerdes in Vietnam
(Posted on 04/11/25)Damen Shipyards Group has delivered its latest Combi Freighter (CF) 3850 to family owned German shipping... Read more
Electric drive on the rise
(Posted on 04/11/25)Liebherr, the global leader in mobile harbour crane technology, continues to drive innovation in sustainable... Read more
Electric drive on the rise
(Posted on 04/11/25)Liebherr, the global leader in mobile harbour crane technology, continues to drive innovation in sustainable... Read more
Electric drive on the rise
(Posted on 04/11/25)Liebherr, the global leader in mobile harbour crane technology, continues to drive innovation in sustainable... Read more
Electric drive on the rise
(Posted on 04/11/25)Liebherr, the global leader in mobile harbour crane technology, continues to drive innovation in sustainable... Read more
Concordia Damen starts major refit project for Reederei Deymann
(Posted on 04/11/25)Concordia Damen has received a new contract from Reederei Deymann, one of Germany’s largest inland... Read more
Wärtsilä completes Marine Electrical Systems divestment to VINCI Energies
(Posted on 04/11/25)Technology group Wärtsilä completed the transaction of the Marine Electrical Systems business... Read more
Rock Machinery becomes full-line Superior dealer with addition of conveying equipment
(Posted on 02/11/25)Superior Industries, Inc., a US-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing and... Read more
Idwal announces regional leadership in Asia with commitment to growth
(Posted on 27/10/25)Idwal, the leading provider of independent vessel inspection and condition assessment services, has... Read more
Cavotec signs motorised reel order for Port Hedland in Australia
(Posted on 20/10/25)Cavotec has signed a contract with Australian construction and engineering company Civmec for the supply... Read more
