The pioneering self-indicating technology Nippon Paint Marine has incorporated into its special tank coating NOA60HS has been certified by the Norwegian Technology Standards Institution as meeting the requirements of the NORSOK M-501 standard.

The self-indicating technology, introduced to the company’s NOA (Nippon Paint Marine Optimised and Advanced Coating System) range of coatings in 1998, allows applicators, surveyors and inspectors to easily see whether the coating has been correctly applied.

While various NOA products are available for different parts of ship and the anticorrosive needs of that area, NOA 60HS is designed specifically for use in ballast water tanks, oil and petrochemical tanks, and void spaces.

Makoto Nakagawa, Marketing Manager, Nippon Paint Marine, said: “The addition of NOA60HS to the NORSOK M-501 approved product range marks a significant development for offshore vessels and installations, such as FSOs, FSRUs and FPSOs.

“As these assets are designed with much longer service intervals than conventional vessels, an effective and reliable long-life anti-corrosive tank coating is crucial to their safe operation. NOA60HS eliminates the risk of coatings applied with low film thickness, a contributory factor in corrosion influenced structural failure.”

Hiro Yamashita, Technical Manager, Nippon Paint Marine, said: “Applying coatings correctly, especially to edges and corners, improves the structural integrity of internal tanks and spaces, providing greater protection against corrosion and impact damage. If the coating appears transparent, then film thickness is incorrect. When it is opaque, NOA’s specified film thickness has been achieved.”

Nakagawa added: “The special pigmentation used in the NOA range is carefully adjusted to the correct dry film thickness of the system so the applicators and inspectors will see immediately if an area meets the specification or needs to be corrected to meet the specification.”

Since market introduction, Nippon Paint Marine’s NOA range, has been applied to more than 1,300 newbuild vessels worldwide.

“By improving a tanks corrosion resistance through more accurate coating application, offshore vessels are less prone to needing emergency repairs and steel renewal work, remaining on station for longer,” said Yamashita.

Developed in 1994 by the Norwegian petroleum industry and administered by the Norwegian Technology Standards Institution, the NORSOK M-501 standard specifies the requirements for coatings selection, surface preparation, application and inspection procedures for coatings applied to offshore vessels, installations and associated facilities.

The standard aims to ensure coating systems are maintenance-, application-, and environmentally friendly, while providing optimal protection to the installation.