According to figures cited by Steelpaint, the number of Turkish shipyards has increased from 37 in 2002 to approximately 85 today.

Turkish shipyards repaired or maintained an estimated 46.4 million deadweight tons of vessel capacity in 2024, compared with 13.1 million deadweight tons in 2011.

Activity moderated to 42.4 million deadweight tons in 2025, but Steelpaint said the long-term outlook continues to support demand for vessel maintenance.

Extending Vessel Service Life

"Shipowners are looking much more closely at the cost of maintaining their vessels over their remaining service lives and coating quality is increasingly seen as a way of reducing the maintenance spend over the long term," said Steelpaint Director Frank Müller.

The company said owners are increasingly evaluating the cost of cargo tank recoating, surface preparation requirements and the time vessels spend in drydock.

According to the Turkish Chamber of Shipping figures cited in the release, vessels above 1,000 gross tonnage had an average age of 22.2 years in January 2025.

Steelpaint said that aging vessels create opportunities for protective systems intended to reduce corrosion-related maintenance and steel replacement.

"For ageing vessels, corrosion can result in costly steel renewal work, particularly where coating deterioration has required repeated maintenance with less than effective protective coatings," said Dmitry Gromilin, Steelpaint's technical service manager.

"Cargo holds are particularly challenging for manufacturers of conventional coatings, with repeated loading and discharge operations exposing steel surfaces to abrasion, mechanical damage and moisture. Repair specifications must consider not only corrosion resistance but also coating durability and compatibility with existing protective systems," he explained.

Newbuilding and Infrastructure Applications

Steelpaint is also targeting Türkiye's newbuilding market with its single-component, moisture-cured polyurethane coating systems, including Stelpant PU-Zinc and PU-Combination 300.

Turkish yards have established positions in specialized vessels such as tugboats, passenger and vehicle ferries, chemical tankers, fishing vessels and yachts.

Steelpaint cited tugboats as accounting for approximately 70% of Turkish shipyard orders, followed by passenger and car ferries at 8% and chemical and oil tankers at 7%.

"These vessels frequently operate under demanding conditions, with workboats exposed to mechanical damage and ferries subject to intensive operating schedules. Selecting protective coatings during construction can help owners establish longer-term maintenance strategies before vessels enter service," Gromilin said.

The company also supplies coatings for fabricated steel used in marine infrastructure.

In 2025, Steelpaint coatings were applied to tubular steel sheet piles produced at the Tosçelik Spiral Boru factory in Türkiye.

The steel structures were manufactured for the expansion of Germany's Port of Cuxhaven, where three additional berths, LP5 through LP7, are being developed along approximately 1,250 m of new quay infrastructure.

Steelpaint said the project illustrates Türkiye's role as a supplier of fabricated steel for international infrastructure construction.

"The Turkish market offers opportunities across several different applications. In addition to the shiprepair and newbuild sectors, we are increasingly working with fabricators supplying steel structures for major infrastructure projects. They also require coating systems that can be applied efficiently and provide reliable protection under demanding service conditions," Müller said.

Steelpaint will showcase marine and infrastructure projects at Europort Istanbul, scheduled for November 4-6, 2026, at the Yenikapi Expo Centre.

The company will attend with its Istanbul-based representative, Remeks.

Vessel life extension and marine infrastructure construction create opportunities for coatings designed to resist corrosion, abrasion and severe operating conditions. Follow more developments in industrial and protective coatings.