Marine Paints for Offshore Structures: Enhancing Durability and Protection
Marine paints are a form of specialized coating material, that is designed to protect various marine structures and vessels from harsh environmental environments. Marine paints are formulated to withstand various marine conditions, like saltwater, UV radiation, and extreme weather conditions. These paints also ensure the longevity of the vessels and marine structures and provide a protective barrier against corrosions, abrasions, and fouling.
The Marine paints offer key applications in offshore structures. In the offshore structure, the marine pains help protect the structures from harsh marine environments, which include saltwater, UV radiation, and extreme weather. In offshore structure applications, marine paints also offer multi-layered designs, which provide comprehensive protection against environmental degradation and corrosion among other effects.
The benefits of marine paint in offshore structures are as follows.
Benefits:
- Corrosion protection: The major function of marine paints is to prevent rust and metal deterioration of the marine structure and vessels, by forming a protective layer or barrier against corrosive agents like saltwater.
- UV Resistance: The marine paints also feature enhanced capabilities in protecting the vessels and structures from sun damage, and help in maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the vessels.
- Improves performance: The marine paints also help in enhancing the performance of the marine vessels, as it helps in reducing the drag, and simultaneously reducing the environmental impacts.
- Cost-effectiveness: The marine paints offer cost-effectiveness to the structure operators, as it reduces the maintenance cost, by extending the service life of the structure.
Types of marine paints used in offshore structure applications.
- Primers: In the primer category, zinc-rich primers and inorganic zinc silicate primers are utilized in the offshore structure application. The zinc-rich primers are commonly utilized as the first layer to protect the metal structure, whereas the inorganic zinc silicate primers offer a strong adhesion.
- Intermediate coats: As an intermediate coat, epoxy coating is utilized for offshore structure application, as it ensures a dense barrier against water and various chemical penetrations.
- Topcoats: For topcoats, aliphatic polyurethane paints and polysiloxane coating are utilized, which offers protection against UV radiation and corrosion resistance.
The growing demand for the offshore energy sector and the introduction of strict environmental regulations are among the key factors propelling the growth of the global marine paints demand in the offshore structure application.
1. Increasing demand for the offshore energy sector
A major factor propelling the increase in the application of marine paints in offshore structures is the growing deployment and installation of offshore energy across the globe. The increasing offshore energy sector is estimated to expand the development of offshore energy infrastructures, increasing the demand for marine paints during the estimated timeline. These paints and coating offer protection of such infrastructures from corrosion and environmental degradations.
The global deployment and development of offshore energy sector witnessed a major growth over the recent few years. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL of the USA, in its report, stated that the US offshore wind energy pipeline witnessed a growth of about 53%, or about 27,836 MW, reaching a total generating capacity of 80,523 MW in May 2024. The agency further stated that in the nation, the proposed generating capacity of the US offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine is estimated at 15,702 MW, whereas the potential generating capacity in mid-Atlantic and Oregon is estimated at 4,499 MW and 3,156 MW respectively.
Offshore Wind Energy Potential Generating Capacity in USA, MW, 2024
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The agency also stated that the investment in the offshore energy sector also witnessed major growth in the nation. The agency stated that the Government of the US aims to set up the first commercial-scale offshore wind power plant, with a capacity of about 132 MW, in the South Fork Wind Farm of Rhode Island. Similarly, another projected commercial-scale offshore power plant, with a capacity of 806 MW in the Vineyard Wind 1 project.
2. Expansion of the global shipbuilding and repair activities.
The growth of the global shipbuilding and repair sector is among the key factors pushing the demand for marine pains for offshore structure applications. With the growing shipbuilding and repair sector across the globe, the construction of offshore infrastructure has increased significantly. The global shipbuilding sector witnessed a major growth over the recent few years. The US Naval Institute, in its report, stated that the total target of the shipbuilding is aimed at 381 ships in 2024.
Similarly, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, of the Indian Government, stated that the total number of ships built and delivered in India reached 206 in 2022-23, compared to 78 ships built and delivered in 2919-20. The agency stated that in 2020-21, a total of 69 ships were built and delivered in the nation, which surged to 113 in 2021-22.
3. Advancement in marine paints technology
The demand for marine paints for offshore structure applications is estimated to witness major growth during the next few years. The increasing technological advancement in the marine paints sector is among the major factors pushing the growth of the market, as the introduction of key innovation, like integrating nano-healing and nano-coating technology in these paints, is estimated to enhance the longevity and performance of the marine paints in the offshore infrastructure.
Marine Paints Market Key Developments
- In November 2024, Iberdrola, S.A., a Spanish multinational electric utility company, announced its investment in the offshore wind coating start-up, RTS. The investment aims to develop innovative and advanced coating materials for offshore wind and energy sectors. The company also aims to promote the production and sale of innovative solutions related to the manufacturing of insulation and anti-corrosion coatings.
The demand for marine paints for offshore structure application is estimated to witness a significant increase, mainly as these paints offer key benefits, like protection from UV radiations, corrosions, and abrasions to the metals used in the infrastructures. Moreover, the increasing demand for the offshore energy sector and growth of the shipbuilding & repair activities are also among the key factors pushing the application of marine paints in offshore structures.
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