{
  "id": 3115866,
  "title": "Steelpaint Coating The Winner In Maersk Corrosion Protection Trial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/steelpaint-coating-the-winner-in-maersk-corrosion-protection-trial",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-24T21:00:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hellenic Shipping News",
    "slug": "hellenic-shipping-news",
    "url": "https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/steelpaint-coating-the-winner-in-maersk-corrosion-protection-trial/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A three-year trial on the 15,300 TEU container ship Maersk Hamburg has demonstrated that Steelpaint’s moisture cure polyurethane coating system outperforms a conventional epoxy system in terms of corrosion protection and coating durability. Inspected in July 2026, the Steelpaint-protected area displayed just 0.3% corrosion, compared to 5% to 15% on the epoxy-coated section. The Steelpaint system required no maintenance, while the epoxy coating needed ongoing upkeep.\n\nIn March 2023, Maersk applied both the Steelpaint and Hempel coating systems to lashing bridge Bay No.74, both featuring a zinc-rich primer and topcoat. The Steelpaint coating comprised 80µm of Stelpant-PU-Zinc and 150µm of Stelpant-PU-Combination 300, totaling 230µm in film thickness (DFT). The Hempel system was made up of 75µm of Hempadur Avantguard 750 and 175µm of Hempadur Mastic, totaling 250µm.\n\nDespite the similar impact and operating conditions, by July 2026, the Steelpaint coating had experienced 0.3% corrosion, up from 0.1% after the first year. Corrosion on the Hempel-coated area had risen from 5% to 15%. The Steelpaint system also endured more first-coat impact damage (1% to 3%) and second-coat damage (10% to 15%).\n\nSignificantly, the epoxy coating necessitated regular maintenance by crew members, while the Steelpaint coating required none throughout the trial. Steelpaint Director Frank Müller noted that the findings indicate the long-term advantages of the Stelpant system. \"Three years later, there's almost no corrosion, but the epoxy-coated lashing bridge showed significant corrosion and impact damage,\" he stated. \"Where the topcoat was removed on the Steelpaint system, the zinc-rich primer remained intact.\"\n\nIn contrast, the Hempel system showed more severe behavior under impact. The report explains instances where the entire coating system peeled away from the steel substrate, along with cracking and brittle coating characteristics. Where steel was exposed, corrosion developed. After three years, the Steelpaint system's DFT measured 180-320µm, with no significant change. The Hempel system's DFT measured 600-1,000µm after multiple touch-ups.\n\nWhile a ten-year service interval is possible, the inspection report suggests that a Stelpant system could substantially reduce or even eliminate the need for sea-store touch-up paint over a ten-year period, reducing maintenance costs. Additionally, the Stelpant system is more sustainable due to lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and the use of raw materials. Having already applied its coating technology on high-wear cargo areas of bulk carriers and container vessels, Steelpaint views the Maersk Hamburg result as evidence of its broader commercial potential, particularly in exposed areas with harsh corrosive climate conditions and mechanical impact.",
  "summary": "A three-year coating trial aboard the 15,300TEU containership Maersk Hamburg has found significantly less corrosion and coating damage on a lashing bridge coated with Steelpaint’s moisture cure polyurethane coating system than on the same area protected with a conventional epoxy system. The Steelpaint-protected area showed only minor corrosion and required no crew maintenance, while a ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}