- COSCO’s First Drydocking with PPG’s Electrostatic Hull Coating Technology.
- PPG Sigmaglide 2390 Coating Helps COSCO Reduce Emissions and Fuel Consumption.
- Innovative Electrostatic Coating Reduces COSCO’s Carbon Footprint.
PPG successfully executed the first COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Ltd. drydocking project with the electrostatic application of PPG SIGMAGLIDE® fouling release coating. The project involved the Liuhengdao shipyard in Zhoushan, China, on the 333-meter crude oil tanker Yuan Chun Hu. PPG Sigmaglide 2390 coating was applied on the underwater hull and PPG NEXEON™ 810 antifouling coating was applied to the boot top, reports AJOT.
COSCO’s Promise to Sustainability
Being the operator of Asia’s largest tanker fleet, COSCO Shipping is earnestly pursuing cutting-edge, low-friction hull coatings to accomplish its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The activity is in congruence with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) requirements for energy efficiency (EEXI and EEDI) as well as carbon intensity (CII).
“Ship owners and shipyards are being encouraged to look for innovative solutions in order to comply with stricter environmental regulations and meet their sustainability goals,” said Xia Lei, PPG business director, Marine Asia Pacific, Protective and Marine Coatings. “Our premium hull coatings suitable for electrostatic application can help to reach these targets.”
Benefits in Performance of PPG Hull Paints
PPG Sigmaglide 2390 is a biocide-free coating that enables ships to save up to 20% of power usage and up to 35% of GHG emissions when compared to conventional antifouling paints. PPG HydroReset™ technology makes these gains, which is achieved by developing almost friction-free and nonstick coatings that do not allow marine creatures to stick onto the hull.
Furthermore, PPG Nexeon 810 coating is also an ultra-low-friction antifouling coating that will assist in having a maximum reduction in total GHG emissions of up to 25%.
Electrostatic Coating Application: A Sustainable Approach
PPG brought the electrostatic coating application to the shipbuilding industry a year ago. This method utilises electrically charged paint particles, which are controlled to be delivered directly to the grounded surface of the ship and distributed evenly to create an even, ultra-smooth, lasting film layer.
The benefits of this method include:
- Increased transfer efficiency compared to traditional airless spraying
- Significantly reduced coating overspray and waste
- Lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, enhancing the working environment for applicators
COSCO’s Sustainable Business Practices
“COSCO strives to conduct its business sustainably by constantly measuring its environmental impact,” said Lei. “One of its primary goals is to reduce carbon emissions across its entire fleet, so choosing the right hull coatings is critically important. Adopting our premium fouling control coatings that support emissions reduction combined with the sustainable electrostatic spraying technique has significantly reduced overspray, waste, and VOC emissions providing a cleaner shipyard and improved working environment for dock workers. This solution combines practicality with effectiveness, helping COSCO achieve its environmental goals.”
Through this collaboration, COSCO is taking a proactive step toward a greener, more efficient shipping industry while maintaining practicality and operational effectiveness.
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Source: AJOT
