The single component zinc-rich polyurethane coating from Steelpaint can extend maintenance intervals to two and a half years.
The German-based coatings manufacturer Steelpaint GmbH has recently announced that it has secured a new order to supply its special painting system Stelpant for the coating operations of thirty-nine vessels ranging from 70,000 to 200,000 deadweight tonnage. The holds of six vessels have already been coated, with the company working closely with local partners and shipyards to ensure the quality of the surface preparation and the application processes.
“The order marks a significant expansion of our partnership with this owner. Coatings renewal programmes of this size are indicative of a shifting industry mindset that prioritises lifecycle efficiency and performance over initial material costs. With demand for dry bulk tonnage remaining strong and drydock space at a premium, coatings that reduce time in the yard while enhancing structural longevity are becoming critical to competitive fleet management,” has commented Frank Müller, the director of Steelpaint GmbH.
Developed in the early 80’s, the anti-corrosion system Stelpant is the result of a decades long research into zinc-rich polyurethane coatings designed for extreme environments. Unlike conventional epoxy paints, it combines high mechanical resilience with cathodic corrosion protection, so it is specifically suited for steel surfaces subject to heavy impact, abrasion and prolonged moisture exposure. Moreover, its unique formulation allows for flexible re-application without full system removal, enabling efficient touch-ups during the regular maintenance cycles.
The Singapore-based shipping group, which manages a fleet of large bulkers totalling 16 million dwt, has been working with Steelpaint for over a decade and assessed that the painting system provided by the company outperform conventional coatings, which were quickly damaged following high mechanical stress – resulting in frequent steel replacement and re-applications.
“Compared to competing systems, some trials under extreme mechanical stress have showed that the Stelpant coating retains a protective film on high-wear and high-impact areas after more than seventeen months in service. For operators, it then can substantially reduce steel replacement in cargo holds, saving an estimated $4.5 million in lifecycle savings per vessel,” has stated Dmitry Gromilin, the Chief Technical Supervisor of Steelpaint.
In addition, independent testing and the calculations of the shipowner estimate that the Stelpant system can extend maintenance intervals to two and a half years between drydockings, significantly reducing the need for steel renewal. So, after these initial successes, the shipping group opted to apply the coating to its ships as part of a broad fleet maintenance initiative focused on steel preservation, reduced downtime and operational efficiency.
The application on twenty dry bulk vessels operated by one of the largest shipping companies in the world will take place during the year in three different Chinese shipyards with the supervision of the local subsidiary, while the other ships will be painted in 2026.
“The application areas will focus primarily on tank tops and lower hopper regions, where frequent impact from grabs and bulldozers can cause significant wear and damage to conventional coatings,” has declared Li Yinlong, the general manager of Steelpaint Ltd China. “It is anticipated that our paints will also be applied to hatch coamings and inner bottom plating. In each case, two 100 m2 layers of the single component zinc-rich polyurethane coating will be applied – between 7000 m2 to 11,000m2 of paint per vessel.”