This project signifies Steelpaint’s return to the Papenburg shipyard after more than a decade. In 2016, the company supplied coatings for 10,000 m2 of sheet pile structures in Meyer Werft’s covered building hall, which remains the world’s largest.
A major refurbishment programme is currently underway at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg (Germany), where 7,600 m2
of drydock sheet pile walls are undergoing recoating. The project uses Steelpaint’s Stelpant corrosion protection system, with the work being executed by job coater Tecton Service.
The current project focuses on the refurbishment of the steel sheet pile walls of the 200x38 m uncovered drydock used for ship repair work. This facility served as the yard’s old building dock, initially commissioned in 1987 before being extended in 1990.
Sheet piles, interlocking steel profiles driven deep into the ground to create retaining structures, are essential components in ports and shipyards for forming quay walls, docks, and waterfront infrastructure. These structures face constant exposure to aggressive marine conditions, including moisture, saltwater spray, and mechanical wear. Consequently, periodic surface preparation and recoating are vital to ensure long-term structural integrity.
The sheet pile walls were last repaired and treated in 2009. Under the current refurbishment works, the existing coatings are being stripped from the steel surfaces using abrasive blasting to Sa 2½. Following this, the sheet piles will be coated with a two-layer Stelpant system, consisting of a Stelpant PU-Zinc primer and a Stelpant PU-Combination 500 topcoat.
While the remedial coating of installed sheet piles is often time-consuming and problematic due to variable weather conditions, Steelpaint reports that its polyurethane zinc coating systems are particularly well-suited to these applications.
“Refurbishing installed sheet pile structures presents a number of challenges. The geometry of sheet piles makes it more difficult to achieve consistent coating coverage compared with flat steel structures. But our Stelpant technology combines strong adhesion with active corrosion protection, essential to ensuring a long service life in harsh marine environments. Outside weather conditions do not usually delay application,” has stated Nils Baumfalk, Steelpaint’s Key Account Manager and lead on the project.
The Stelpant PU-Zinc primer provides cathodic protection via its high content of elementary zinc, helping to prevent corrosion even if the coating sustains damage. Meanwhile, the PU-Combination 500 topcoat forms a high-build barrier layer engineered to withstand environmental exposure and mechanical impact.
“Maintaining the integrity of these walls is critical for the safety and efficiency of drydocking operations. Stelpant technology is a key component in a shipyard’s drydock maintenance strategy as the coating provides very durable, reliable protection and is very easy to apply. Returning to Meyer Werft after more than ten years is a strong indication that our coating systems have delivered. Shipyards operate in extremely demanding environments, so long coating lifetimes are critical for reducing maintenance costs and operational disruption,” has added Frank Müller, Director of Steelpaint.