The right marine coating can go a long way toward reducing drag and saving on fue

Published 24 April 2025

FuelEU came into force this January, applying to all commercial vessels over 5,000 gross tons transporting passengers or cargo. 

It's part of the EU's “Fit for 55” legislative package, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The regulation promotes increased use of renewable, low-carbon fuels and alternative energy sources at sea. 

The IMO's Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) is a valuable tool for supporting “Fit for 55” goals. CII requires ships to assess their annual operational carbon intensity, measured in grams of CO₂ emitted per cargo carrying capacity per nautical mile. A vessel's CII rating will decline over time unless continual improvements are made to reduce carbon intensity. 

Taken together, these initiatives highlight two key focus areas: the type of fuel used and how efficiently the vessel moves through water. The latter is where modern hull-coating technology plays a crucial role. 

Industry-first application method

Selecting the right coating is the first step. Applying it to the hull comes next. 

Pittsburgh-based PPG brings 40 years of electrostatic coating experience from the automotive, aerospace and manufacturing sectors to the maritime industry. It's the first company to introduce electrostatic application to shipping, supported by specifically developed, high-tech coatings. 

This technology boosts transfer efficiency over traditional spraying. EDR Antwerp shipyard achieved a 40 percent reduction in overspray through the electrostatic application of PPG SIGMAGLIDE 2390 fouling release coating. The project was carried out on the underwater hull of the ro-ro passenger vessel Stena Transporter. 

“Electrostatic application increases the weather window for painting and drastically reduces overspray,” notes Philippe Trouillard, Commercial Manager, EDR. “Less masking and dock-covering also saves time and costs.” 

With continued investment in R&D, PPG has developed coatings that offer superior durability while meeting strict environmental standards. Longer-lasting performance reduces the need for reapplication, delivering both environmental and economic advantages for shipowners. 

Full lifecycle solutions

With ever more stringent requirements driven by a need for continuous improvement, every aspect of a hull coating's lifecycle must be optimized. High-tech coatings, new application methods and a system of continuing maintenance and monitoring all provide measurable results in improving efficiency and reducing emissions. 

As we move towards our decarbonization goals as an industry, every improvement helps. 

Originally published in The Maritime Executive.