International Paints has proven the durability in service of its Intershield 300 coating, which has remained in excellent condition after 15 years in the cargo oil tanks of the ‘Samco Raven’.

The 301,653DWT crude oil tanker had the upper and lower areas of her cargo oil tanks coated with the abrasion-resistant, aluminium-pure epoxy coating Intershield 300 immediately after delivery in June 1996. At her third special survey and planned maintenance at Yiu Lian Dockyard, China in 2011, nine of her fifteen cargo oil tanks were assessed and the coating condition was rated as excellent throughout.

In addition, very little breakdown was observed on edges, weld seams, cut-outs and scallops throughout the tanks, with only a small number of minor, isolated spots of corrosion present. No breakdown was visible directly above, at or below the cargo load lines and the coating was in excellent condition in areas surrounding bellmouths and on sharp edges around cargo wells.

In January, Intershield 300 passed the IMO PSPC Cargo Oil Tank laboratory tests in accordance with IMO MSC.288 (87) SOLAS regulations for cargo oil tankers. In 2008 the product was awarded the first Lloyd’s Register IMO PSPC Type Approval Certificate for sea water ballast tanks.

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