China’s largest tanker shipowner chooses more sustainable coatings with new application technique

 PPG announced the first drydocking for COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation  using electrostatic application of PPG SIGMAGLIDE® fouling release coating. The project was carried out on the Yuan Chun Hu, a 333 meter crude oil tanker owned by COSCO Shipping at the Liuhengdao shipyard in Zhoushan, China. PPG Sigmaglide 2390 coating was applied to the underwater hull and PPG NEXEON™ 810 antifouling coating to the boottop.

With the largest tanker fleet in Asia, COSCO Shipping is seeking innovative low-friction hull coatings to meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) energy efficiency (EEXI and EEDI) and carbon intensity (CII) requirements.

“Ship owners and shipyards are being encouraged to look for innovative solutions in order to comply with stricter environmental regulations and meet their sustainability goals,” said Xia Lei, PPG business director, Marine Asia Pacific, Protective and Marine Coatings. “Our premium hull coatings suitable for electrostatic application can help to reach these targets.”

PPG Sigmaglide 2390 coating is biocide-free and helps vessels reduce power consumption by up to 20% and GHG emissions by up to 35% compared to traditional antifouling coatings. These performance benefits stem from PPG HYDRORESET™ technology, which creates an almost friction-free, nonstick surface that marine organisms cannot recognize or adhere to. PPG Nexeon 810 coating is an ultralow-friction antifouling that can enable a total GHG emissions reduction of up to 25%.

Both hull coatings are compatible with electrostatic coating application, introduced by PPG to the shipping industry just over a year ago. Electrically charged paint particles are precisely guided toward the grounded surface of the vessel, resulting in exceptionally even distribution and the formation of a uniform, ultrasmooth, long-lasting film layer. This technique offers sustainability benefits including increased transfer efficiency compared to traditional airless spraying, which significantly reduces coating overspray and waste. Combined with the low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of PPG Sigmaglide coating, the technique provides an improved working environment for the applicators.

“COSCO strives to conduct its business sustainably by constantly measuring its environmental impact,” said Lei. “One of its primary goals is to reduce carbon emissions across its entire fleet, so choosing the right hull coatings is critically important. Adopting our premium fouling control coatings that support emissions reduction combined with the sustainable electrostatic spraying technique has significantly reduced overspray, waste and VOC emissions providing a cleaner shipyard and improved working environment for dock workers. This solution combines practicality with effectiveness, helping COSCO achieve its environmental goals.”