Freight Rate Surge Could Affect Underwater Hull Coatings As Liner Trades Defer Dry-Dockings

Nippon Paint Marine is seeing liner operators increasingly postpone dry-dockings as they look to keep vessels operational to meet the recent surge in demand for container shipments.

“Container ship owners want to push dry-docking schedules as much as possible because of the high freight rates and capacity shortage,” said John Drew, Director, Nippon Paint Marine (Europe).

“Although the shipowner’s classification society has the final say in accepting any plans to postpone a five-year dry-docking, we are beginning to see deferments of several months.”

According to the coatings’ manufacturer, the marine coating division of Japan’s Nippon Paint Group, postponed dry-dockings could possibly impair the long-term performance of hull coatings, possibly resulting in increased fouling, fuel consumption and emissions.

Michael Friis, Nippon Paint Marine’s Sales Manager in Denmark, said: “Most coating systems are designed to perform reliably for 60 months. Hull performance needs to be monitored very closely indeed if dry-dockings are to be postponed as any commercial gain from a bullish market could be lost.”

Drew added: “Hull coatings have a very precise service period calculated at the time of application and based on many variables. As a coatings manufacturer, we advise that ship operators follow the application and performance guidelines for coatings designed with a 60-month operating window.”

Nippon Paint Marine also suggested that long delays past the 60-month dry-docking life could ultimately result in extra surface preparation requirements when ships eventually do enter dry-dock.

“In the worst case, the hull may need to be blasted. This can add to the vessel’s in-dock time and will be more costly. There is also the environmental aspect to consider,” said Drew.

Some major operators set to dock ships at yards in China during January and February have deferred their plans until market demand abates, apparently creating empty slots at the yards.

“If further dry-dockings are postponed this year, there could be repair yard capacity issues later when the market readjusts,” said Drew. “Any major changes to the sector’s current dry-docking schedules are likely to have commercial repercussions later, possibly for both yard and owner.”

Nippon Paint Marine, the world’s fifth-largest coatings producer, recently launched a completely new antifouling system based on hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanodomain technology.

FASTAR is a self-polishing antifouling paint that incorporates a unique nano-domain resin structure designed to minimise the effect that seawater temperatures, vessel speeds and other external factors have on coating performance.

Press Release

Disclaimer :
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Latest Shipping News You Would Like:

U.S Navy And The Philippines Begin Joint Naval Drills In South China Sea Amidst Tensions With China

Posted on October 3, 2023

In a show of force against China amid ever growing tensions in the much-disputed waterway, defense allies the Philippines and the US started conducting combined naval activities on Monday.

Captain Of Cargo Ship Carrying €157million Worth Of Cocaine Appears In Wexford Court

Posted on October 3, 2023

The ship captain of the MV Matthew got a bail rejection after he appeared at the court on being charged over the €157 million cocaine seizure off the country’s south coast.

Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron Warships Arrive At Port Klang, Malaysia

Posted on October 3, 2023

As part of the Indian Navy’s log-range deployment in Southeast Asia, the vessels of the First Training Squadron (1TS)-ICGS Sarathi, INS Tir, and INS Sujata are visiting Malaysia’s Port Klang.

Environmental Groups Demand Rules To Protect The North Atlantic Right Whale From Ship Collisions

Posted on October 3, 2023

A coalition of environmental groups has been calling on the country’s federal government to have in place emergency rules to safeguard a fast-vanishing species of whale from collisions with large vessels.

U.S Navy And Lockheed Martin Fire Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile With A 4000 NM Range

Posted on October 3, 2023

The Fleet Ballistic Missile — One Trident II D5 Life Extension, was successfully launched on 27 September by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy, off the coast of California.