The MarineLine® coating is now being specified on chemical tankers being manufactured in all major shipbuilding regions of the world.

AVON, OHIO, USA, July 15, 2008 – Every year the number of ships that are coated with MarineLine® continues to grow. MarineLine is now known throughout the chemical tanker industry as a unique lining system, engineered with minute, tightly woven cross-linked polymers that deliver superior resistance against attack even from hazardous cargos. It is superior to the more fragile phenolic epoxy coatings that can break down over time and need to be replaced, or even to stainless steel tanks, which cannot tolerate certain chemicals, and are especially vulnerable to salt water contamination. MarineLine, on the other hand, can easily carry any IMO-approved cargo from acids to caustics to solvents, and is a versatile choice for the shipowner.

This technology has caught on as leading ship owners worldwide are specifying MarineLine®. Mr. Donald Keehan, Chairman of Advanced Polymer Coatings, Ltd. (Avon, Ohio, USA), the developer and manufacturer of the MarineLine coating system states, “The first ship coated with MarineLine® was in 1994. In 2006, we announced in Hamburg Germany at the SMM 2006 Show that milestone 100th tanker ship had been coated with MarineLine®. Just last year, 107 tankers were coated with MarineLine, and in 2008 we expect to break that record, and we are doing larger tanker vessels then ever before. At SMM 2008, this fall, we will present the 300th MarineLine-coated ship.”

Demand for MarineLine® has led Advanced Polymer Coatings to open offices in the major shipbuilding centers across the globe. Existing offices including Advanced Polymer Headquarters in Avon, Ohio USA, and European offices MarineLine Europe in the UK, and MarineLine Turkey in Tuzla, have now been joined with new offices including Advanced Polymer Coatings China in Shanghai, MarineLine Korea in Pusan, MarineLine Japan in Shizuoka, and Advanced Polymer Coatings SEA in Singapore. All these new offices have been opened and staffed within the past year to provide customers with regionalized service and access to the MarineLine® technology.

Mr. Keehan explains a new development is in the works that will premiere at the SMM 2008 show. The company is preparing to launch an application company that will offer services in applying MarineLine® and other coatings. “With our vast experience gained in the past 18 years with regard to MarineLine® application, heat curing, and inspection, we know we can take coating application to another level, thus ensuring for ship owners and shipyards that their coatings work is done professionally and will meet all the warranty requirements."