Tech File: An Inside Look at Ballast Tank Linings
The proper lining of ballast tanks is essential and critical to ship safety. Not too many decades ago, ships traveling the North Atlantic routes were experiencing terrible losses from outright sinking in the turbulent seas. It was eventually discovered that the primary culprit was hull failure from ballast tanks rupturing from the inside out due to simple, plain old-fashioned rusting and galvanic corrosion. The U.S. Navy led the way and came up with a recommended formula, or recipe, for a ballast tank coating that paint manufactures could copy in bidding for Navy business.
Sher-Release Silicone Fouling Release Coating
A U.S. Navy patented solution, Sherwin-Williams Sher-Release System causes marine organisms to be released from surfaces at slow speeds and light water pressure, a solution that works with nature, not against it. It offers better adhesion, abrasion resistance and scratch resistance compared to standard silicone systems. “Not only does the Sher-Release System provide superior biofouling protection, workboats, passenger vessels and commercial ships can realize fuel savings as much as six to ten percent,” said Brad Rossetto, Vice President, Marketing, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. The Sher-Release System is self-cleaning with constant water flow during regular use. The hull is also cleaned by water jet under normal pressure.
New Sher-Release Coating System
Sherwin-Williams Protective and Marine Coatings announced new Sher-Release Silicone Fouling Release Coating System, a nontoxic alternative to conventional antifouling coatings. A U.S. Navy patented solution, Sher-Release combines durability, longevity, clean-ability and cost-effectiveness. It is an ideal coating for hull applications to a range of ships, helping to prevent fouling of the underwater hull by barnacles, mussels and other marine organisms. The system’s foulant release technology combines an epoxy anti-corrosive system and a tough, protective silicone surface coat interlocked by a unique elastomeric formula. The Sher-Release system’s surface provides steady long-term performance that is less prone to mechanical damages.
