Team Aniara, a 40,738 dwt vessel, is the first chemical tanker in Singapore to have used the MarineLine® Advanced Polymer Coating (APC) in its cargo tanks.

It is owned by Songa Ship Holding Pte Ltd of Singapore. Major works carried out on the vessel involved cargo tanks blasting and painting works.

Kenneth Macleod, Technical Director for Blystad, said, “We have been very happy with the level of service and quality of work done at the yard. All work has been completed on time and the location of the yard is close to the trade route, minimizing off hire.”

This completion marks Blystad’s ninth vessel that Keppel Shipyard has worked on for the past two years. Earlier this year, Blystad’s Singapore office, Songa Ship Holding Pte Ltd signed an exclusive fleet arrangement with Keppel Shipyard to service all its vessels in Singapore.

“It has been an exciting two years and we have overcome many challenges together. We have got a really good team going on and looking forward to many more future cooperations,” said Thomas Lee, Commercial Manager, Keppel Shipyard.

The project team from Keppel Shipyard had the first-hand opportunity to learn the application of the coating from Richard Vassanelli, MarineLine’s Manager, Marine Inspection Services, who was in the yard to oversee the process.

APC’s MarineLine® is a superior chemical resistant coating that offers operational efficiency for owners of chemical-carrying tankers, with shorter cleaning and drying time.

Tested and proven to resist corrosion of 4,000 different chemicals better than stainless steel, phenol epoxies and zinc after the low-heat curing, the coating is also impermeable, ensuring product purity, and it allows transportation of food grade cargoes.

“People who do not know APC’s MarineLine® think that it is just another type of corrosion paint or coating, but for those who have used MarineLine®, they know two things. One, the brokers love it and two, they have made a good investment,” says Mr. Vassanelli.