Steelpaint GmbH completed application of its Stelpant corrosion-protection system on Min Hua 17, the fourth newbuilding in the Xiamen Minhua Shipping fleet scheduled to enter service after the Lunar New Year.

The 12,000 dwt multi-purpose cargo vessel follows earlier applications on Min Hua 9, Min Hua 15 and Min Hua 16. All four vessels were built at Fujian Donghai Shipyard and use a polyurethane-based zinc-rich primer as part of the corrosion-protection system.

After initial application in the cargo holds of the 2024-delivered Min Hua 9, the ship manager expanded the coating scope on subsequent vessels to include cargo holds, hatch covers and the main deck.

“When we first specified Steelpaint, we wanted to see how the coating would behave in service,” said Li Jianbin, general manager of Xiamen Minhua Shipping. “What we observed was that the zinc primer remains intact when the topcoat is mechanically damaged, protecting the substrate from corrosion. The crew is better managing coating upkeep without repeated full-area touch-ups, which has reduced maintenance costs by about 50% compared to other types of coatings.”

Operational feedback was also collected following an inspection of Min Hua 15 after one year of service carrying coal, general stores and containers.

Li Yinlong, head of Steelpaint’s operations in China, attended the inspection and said the findings aligned with crew experience.

“The vessel had been operating normally throughout the year,” he said. “When we inspected the coating during a scheduled port stay in Lianyungang, the chief officer said he was satisfied with its condition. He also said routine maintenance work had been reduced and that repeated purchases of paint for touch-up work were no longer required.”

All four vessels now have tank tops and lower stools and hoppers protected by two 80 µm coats of Stelpant-PU-Zinc primer followed by a 120 µm application of a conventional epoxy topcoat. Other areas required only a single Stelpant primer coat.

The primer’s high-solids formulation and finely meshed zinc pigments allow application in temperatures ranging from −5 °C to 50 °C and at relative humidity levels up to 98%.

Applying Stelpant to the fabricated steel during the Min Hua 16 building phase. Credit: Steelpaint

“In real trading conditions is exactly how coating performance should be evaluated,” said Frank Müller, director at Steelpaint. “The fact that each successive vessel has expanded the protected areas shows that the owner can see and quantify the benefit. For multi-purpose vessels, where coating damage is unavoidable, retaining primer integrity is critical to vessel safety and lifespan.”

Xiamen Minhua Shipping confirmed that the Stelpant system will also be applied to a new series of 12,000 and 17,000 dwt multi-purpose cargo newbuildings. Two additional Chinese bulk carrier operators are currently trialing the system.

This announcement reflects ongoing developments in Protective Coatings used to extend service life in maritime and industrial environments.