Page 30 - Layout 1

Paints & Coatings

Eco evolution
Q&A with Sijmen Visser, Global Marketing

Manager M&R, PPG Protective and
Marine Coatings

Q: How have environmental optimise vessel and voyage efficiency. and self-smoothing properties such as
concerns in shipping impacted on Also due to the market situation, a SIGMA SYLADVANCE 800 and zinc

PPG’s product range in recent times?
significant number of ships have been acrylate antifouling coatings that offer
slow steaming and/or spending longer low friction antifouling properties while A: The marine coatings industry

time waiting for cargoes. The at the same time being copper-free such has experienced a period of intense
combination of low speed and low as the SIGMA NEXEON range. All of product innovation over the last few

operation increases the fouling pressure these technologies score highly in years, responding both to regulation

on the ship’s hull and therefore the need reducing environmental footprint and and the changing needs of ship owners.
for antifouling products that can keep lowering operational expenses.
With fuel accounting for 50% or more

the hull free from fouling at these
of daily operating costs, ship owners are PPG has been delivering high
increasingly expecting their coatings to conditions.
quality ballast and cargo tank coating

contribute positively to potential cost solutions for more than 40 years. At Q: Which of PPG’s maritime
savings as well as meeting newbuild, ballast tanks coatings products are most popular at this time

environmental obligations such as represent the majority of the paint and why?
reduced in-water impact as well as volume and particular focus has been A: PPG’s premium antifouling

lower VOC emissions.
on products that can provide higher and fouling release range centres
volume solids and lower emissions of Antifouling coatings technology has around three main technologies;

Volatile Organic Compounds. Our evolved over the past 10 years, in part silicone-based, biocide-free fouling

SIGMAPRIME range of products is due to technological advances, but also release coatings such as SIGMAGLIDE
available with options of 60%, 70% because of the very real need for vessel 990, silyl acrylate antifouling coatings
and 80% volume solids.
operators to reduce fuel costs and
which offer hydrolysing, self-polishing
I