ABS's new coatings guide

US-based classification society ABS has issued a completely revised and expanded edition of its Guidance Notes on Inspection, Maintenance and Application of Marine Coatings.

The move anticipates the new IMO mandated Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC) (IMO MSC 215(82)) which takes effect on 1 July 2008 and will apply to the dedicated seawater ballast tanks on all ships of not less than 500 gross tons for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 July 2008; or, in the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid on or after 1 January 2009. The standards also apply to the double-side skin spaces of bulk carriers of 150m in length and upwards.

The guidance provided by ABS covers both the technical requirements of the new regulations and the role coatings play in contributing to the longevity of the structure. They also take into account the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Procedural Requirement (PR34) that specifically addresses the application of the new IMO standards.

The ABS Guidance Notes are recognized by NACE International as being quality introductory training material for marine coating inspectors. NACE is globally recognized as the leading professional technical society dedicated to the prevention of corrosion and governs the NACE Coating Inspector Program, which sets the benchmark for other coating inspection programs and is referenced in IMO MSC 215(82).

“Coatings comprise a significant proportion of the cost of a new ship,” says Todd Grove, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff. “Both the IMO and Class have recognized that the quality of the coatings directly affects the structural integrity of the ship, its environmental performance and, ultimately, the value of the asset. Although the new standards place the primary responsibility for the proper application of the coatings on the shipyard, these new guidelines should help clarify the issues, and potential pitfalls, for all parties while clearly delineating the responsibilities of class for verifying that the applicable processes are complied with.”