Steelpaint, the German manufacturer of high-performance single-component moisture cure polyurethane coatings, has completed a test coating on MUR Shipping’s 63,000dwt bulk carrier African Bari Bird.

The project marks a first reference for the company’s advanced Stelpant system on an Indian managed vessel and represents a significant step forward in the company’s strategy to penetrate one of the world’s most active bulk carrier markets.

Coatings work was carried out at China’s Zeme Shipyard during a scheduled drydocking in December, with trial coats applied to a cargo hold forward hatch coaming, corrugated bulkhead, lower stool and tank top.

According to Li Yinlong, the General Manager of Steelpaint China,  MUR Shipping’s decision to trial the Stelpant system reflects the sector-wide challenge of keeping cargo holds protected against a relentless cycle of abrasion and corrosion that conventional coatings struggle to withstand.

“A pre-docking inspection of No.3 cargo hold recorded substantial degradation. Corrosion rates were about 30% on the hatch coaming, 60% on bulkheads, 80% on the lower stool and the tank top protection had gone completely. 100% corrosion combined with pitting,” said Li.

Before Stelpant could be applied, all test areas were blasted to SA2 using copper slag abrasive and washed down with freshwater at 150 bar.

“The coatings team at the Zeme Shipyard, working with Steelpaint for the first time, handled the preparation very well indeed,” said Li. “Steelpaint cargo hold coatings do not require specific surface treatment and the yard was hugely impressed with the coating’s ease of application.”

The MCPU applied to hatch coamings and bulkheads comprised a reddish Stelpant-PU-Zinc primer at 100µm DFT, followed by Stelpant-PU-Combination300 – a micaceous iron oxide topcoat – at 150µm DFT. Lower stools and tank tops were coated with Stelpant-PU-Zinc at 125µm DFT followed by Stelpant-PU-Zinc in grey at 125µm DFT.

The No.3 hold was back in service within 24 hours.

Steelpaint Director Frank Müller said: “Cargo hold maintenance is one of the most significant ongoing costs for a bulk carrier operator. MUR wanted to put the Steelpant system through its paces properly, across the areas that take the hardest punishment.”

MUR Shipping’s 63-vessel fleet carries metals, minerals, agricultural products and specialist project cargoes, such as wind turbine components.

“Our first cargo hold trial with an Indian-operated bulk carrier represents a meaningful milestone for Steelpaint,” furthered Müller.

“It not only validates our technical approach in demanding marine environments but also gives us an authentic reference point as we engage with Indian shipowners, yards and technical decision-makers. Our aim is to support operators as they invest in fleet resilience and maintenance optimisation, aligned with India’s expanding maritime infrastructure and trade growth.”

India’s maritime sector is undergoing transformative growth, with significant investment commitments and policy reforms aimed at modernising ports, fleet capacity, shipbuilding and supply chains as part of the government’s Maritime India Vision.

Steelpaint’s Stelpant MCPU system is designed for high abrasion environments and is tolerant of elevated humidity levels, with application possible at relative humidity levels of up to 98%.

Unlike conventional multi-component epoxy systems, the corrosion protection technology removes mixing variability and enables rapid overcoating, reducing downtime risk during tightly scheduled drydockings.

First performance indications are expected within six months. A full evaluation across all trial areas should follow within the year, with the typical next step being application across a vessels complete cargo holds before any fleet-wide rollout is considered.