Latvian Shipping’s 28,000dwt chemical/product tanker Indra is said to have had seven problem-free years in service after having her cargo tanks coated with Advanced Polymer Coatings’ MarineLine® tank coating.

A total of 16 cargo tanks, including two slop tanks, were coated with the original formulation MarineLine® onboard the Indra, with the vessel’s tank tops and lower walls (to a height of 250mm) subsequently being upgraded with glassfibre-reinforced MarineLine® Composite.

Comfortably exceeding the five-year, 100% insured guarantee issued by Advanced Polymer Coatings, the MarineLine® coated tanks of Latvian Shipping’s 28,400dwt IMO II chemical/products tanker Indra continue to provide her owner with problem-free service after seven years. "This long-life performance of our innovative, polymer-based anti-corrosion system is not unexpected," says Don Keehan, Advanced Polymer Coatings Chairman. "We confidently predicted a service life of more than 10 years when MarineLine® was introduced to the maritime sector, based on previous trials and experiences in other, equally demanding industrial applications. There is no reason why this unique, high-performance tank lining should not go well beyond the 10-year mark if the system is treated correctly."

A total of 16 cargo tanks, including two slop tanks, were coated with the original formulation MarineLine® onboard Indra, with the tank tops and lower walls (to a height of 250 mm) subsequently being upgraded with glassfibre-reinforced MarineLine® Composite in late 1998. "This reinforced system provides exceptionally high tolerance to mechanical damage, and consequently enabled Indra to transport a range of aggressive liquids, including IMO I cargoes," explained Arnie Zagaris, technical manager of Riga-based Latvian Shipping.

Immediately after the upgrading, Indra began carrying super-phosphoric acid from Morocco to India, which contained hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid, and has caused major damage to stainless steel tanks. Indra is currently carrying methanol, acetic acid, caustics, fatty acids and other aggressive cargoes.

Indra was the first of three Latvian Shipping tankers to be upgraded with MarineLine® as part of the company’s fleet modernization programme. Dzintari and Zanis Griva were also upgraded. Both vessels are 16,4000dwt oil/chemical tankers, originally coated with zinc, which were upgraded with MarineLine® to enable them to carry IMO II and III cargoes. Each ship has since carried methanol, fatty acids, acrylonitrile, MTBE, phenol and other aggressive cargoes.

"This tank upgrading decision was aimed at providing these vessels with the capability to transport harsher chemical products, which earn higher freight rates," said Mr. Zageris, "and it was an extremely successful move."

"Charterers like these ships, not only for their cargo-carrying versatility — they have transported cargoes ranging from super-phosphoric acid and methanol, to wine and vegetable oils — but also their quick, easy tank cleaning and faster cargo sequencing," he added. Danish tanker charterer Copenhagen Tankers A/S, for example, is on record as stating as being very pleased with MarineLine®’s capability and performance.

This performance and the proven durability of Advanced Polymer’s system exceeds the operational results achieved by all other chemical and product tankers in Latvian Shipping’s tanker fleet, which totals 39 vessels from 6,000dwt to 41,000dwt. It is anticipated that further tankers in the fleet will be upgraded with MarineLine® in the future.

Latvian Shipping has also selected Advanced Polymer’s SteamLine® for protection of the exposed deck pipework of Dzintari. SteamLine® was applied to overcome the problem of pipe coating damage caused by high thermal ‘shock’
in extreme maritime conditions, when cold seawater washes over hot pipelines. Durable, highly-effective external protection is provided to all exposed hot steam pipes and shipboard cargo transfer pipes on deck, combating thermal shock as well as the corrosive effects of seawater and chemical cargo spillage. Dzintari has more than 400m of pipework (surface area 320m²) protected with SteamLine®, which was applied in two coats each of 150microns dry film thickness, while the vessel was in its home port of Riga.