Call for Papers: Marine & Offshore Coatings

The Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) is inviting presentation for the International Marine and Offshore Coatings Conference, to be held May 18 to 20, 2009 in Virginia Beach, VA.  This program will feature a multi-track format designed for professionals who specify and use marine coatings, as well as for coating manufacturers, end users and raw materials suppliers of marine coatings including: formulators and R&D personnel, ship yard and dry dock facilities personnel, United States Navy and Coast Guard, classification societies, standards setting organization and the EPA.

Organizers are seeking presentations describing new findings from theoretical research to practical application as well as research and development in the field of marine coatings and related regulations.  Papers should be of a high scientific and technical standard.  The use of trade names is discouraged.  Those interested should provide a maximum 250-word abstract along with the following: title of paper, author(s), and full contact information.  Presentations will be 30 minutes (including 5 minutes for discussion).

The deadline for submission of abstracts is January 15, 2009.  Presenters will be notified of acceptance by February 13, 2009 and PowerPoint presentations for the Proceedings are due April 13, 2009.

Themes and suggested topics:
New Technologies
•    Emerging Issues
•    Unique Coatings
•    Topside Coatings
•    Void Space and Ballast Coatings
•    Unique Raw Materials
•    Nanotechnology
Short and Long Term Regulatory Issues
•    Antifouling
•    Dome Testing
•    Greenhouse Gases
•    VOCs
Non-Coating Approaches
•    Cleaning Methods
Best Management Practices
•    Hull Maintenance
Updates
•    Navy Updates
•    Shipyard Updates
•    Ship Owner Report (overall cost of operating vessel – i.e., fuel costs, repainting, repair, dry dock costs)
Fouling and Anti-fouling
•    Natural Products
•    Silicone
•    Biocides
•    Invasive Species
•    Fouling Release Coatings
Liability Issues and Certification
•    Legality
Industry Demand
•    Shipyard and end-user perspective
•    What can help them?

Send abstracts to Jennifer Majchrzak, FSCT Director of Education, at [email protected]; fax to 610.940.0292; or mail to FSCT, 527 Plymouth Rd., Ste. 415, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Visit the Programs area of the FSCT website, www.coatingstech.org, for more information.