PPG and Cosco shipping in electrostatic coating application

PPG has completed its first drydocking project for Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Ltd using electrostatic application of its PPG Sigmaglide 2390 fouling release coating. Yuan Chun Hu, a 333m-long crude oil tanker, was coated at the Liuhengdao shipyard in Zhoushan, China.

With the largest tanker fleet in Asia, Cosco Shipping is adopting advanced low-friction hull coatings to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) emissions targets. PPG Sigmaglide 2390, a biocide-free coating, claims to reduce power consumption by up to 20% and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 35%. PPG Nexeon 810 antifouling coating, applied to the vessel’s boot top, further enhances fuel efficiency.

While modern marine coatings can have extremely advanced chemistry, their effectiveness is dictated by the application in the shipyard. Even the most highly advanced coating can be nullified by a poor-quality application.

Electrostatic application of PPG’s coatings reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in the coating process, and leads to a more uniform application of the coating, improving the surface and leading to greater effectiveness at sea. “This solution helps Cosco meet its sustainability goals while ensuring a cleaner shipyard environment,” said Xia Lei, PPG’s Marine Asia Pacific director.