You are on page 1of 8

Cargo Hold Coatings

Recommended Working Procedures

www.international-marine.com
Introduction
Successful in service performance of cargo hold coating systems
depends not only on the correct choice of coating but also on the
procedures adopted for surface preparation and paint application.
This document is designed to assist ship operators, shipyards and
contractors achieve the optimum preparation and application
standards so maximising performance of cargo hold coatings
applied at maintenance and repair drydocking. For simplicity, each
section assumes surface preparation by abrasive blasting.

Hold Condition - Pre Contract


Prior to commencement of the contract it is essential that the holds
are clean, dry and in a condition suitable for surface preparation and
application of hold coatings. The points listed below briefly outline
the minimum requirements:

Typical condition of cargo hold after 3 years in service with a conventional coating system.

Typical condition of cargo hold prior to refurbishment.

• Prior to work commencing, holds must be certified gas free.

• Heavy scale must be removed.

• Debris and cargo residues must be removed.

• All grease and oil must be removed in accordance with SSPC-SP1.

• All hot work must be complete.

• Any blisters on existing coatings must be broken by appropriate


means prior to fresh water washing.

• Prior to surface preparation, surfaces must be thoroughly fresh


water washed and allowed to dry.
Adoption of hydroblasting as a method
of surface preparation continues to “Successful in service
increase worldwide.

performance of cargo hold


coating systems depends not
only on the correct choice of
coating but also on the
procedures adopted for surface
preparation and paint application.”
Pitted steel after grit blasting to Sa2 (ISO 8501-1 : 1988, SSPC-SP6).
Substrate condition commonly found in bulk carriers greater than 10 years of age.

Gritblasting to Sa2 (ISO 8501-1 : 1988, SSPC-SP6) on hatch coaming area.

Surface Preparation Compressed Air


Surface preparation must be in accordance with the agreed specification. Air used for abrasive blasting must be clean, oil-free and dry.
The pressure should be at least 7kg/cm2 (100 p.s.i.) at the nozzle.
Accepted standards include:
Abrasive Blasting: ISO 8501-1 : 1988, SSPC Abrasive
Hydroblasting: International Paint Hydroblasting Standards Abrasives used for blasting should be clean, dry and free from dirt,
Slurryblasting: International Paint Slurryblasting Standards oil, grease, organic or water soluble matter. Consult International
Mechanical Preparation: ISO 8501-1:1988, SSPC Paint for recommendations on suitable abrasive material.
Abrasive Sweeping: International Paint Abrasive Sweep Standards
Surface Profile
The surface profile required will depend upon the type of coating to
be applied. Measurement on site should be by profile gauge or
other instrument agreed by all parties prior to commencing
surface preparation.
Scaffolding (Staging)
Type
Staging should be designed to allow thorough cleaning and acceptable
substrate access. International Paint recommend that staging should
be the ‘turn over’ type, when local safety regulations permit.

Tubular scaffolding should not mask surfaces to be coated. Where


contact with surfaces is necessary, spade ends should be used.
Tubular scaffolding should be plugged or capped prior to abrasive
blasting to prevent ingress of grit and dirt (which may be subsequently
dislodged, leading to coating contamination).

Layout
Staging should afford easy and safe access to all surfaces to be
coated, but should be at least 150mm to 300mm (6" to 12") from Mobile platform being lowered into a cargo hold.

vertical surfaces to be coated.

Typical staging configuration used during cargo hold refurbishment contract.

Distance between staging levels should not exceed two metres Cleaning
(6.5 feet) and the staging layout should be such that ventilation is If abrasive blasting or abrasive sweeping is carried out, the bulk of
not restricted. spent abrasive and dust must be removed prior to the initial
blasting inspection.
Care should be taken when removing scaffolding in order to minimise
damage to a freshly applied coating. All coating damages should be Following acceptance of the preparation standard, all remaining traces
repaired in accordance with the recommendations of the International of abrasive and dust should be removed from all areas using industrial
Paint Representative on site. vacuum cleaners fitted with brushes, or by other suitable methods

Mobile Platforms agreed by the International Paint Representative on site.

If mobile platforms or ‘cherry pickers’ are used, they should be When preparing surfaces by other means, all traces of debris should
capable of giving access to all parts of the cargo hold. Operatives also be removed by appropriate methods.
should not have to lean or stretch excessively to gain suitable access.
Final examination of the prepared substrate prior to coating application
must be undertaken on completion of all cleaning operations.

Dehumidification
Dehumidification equipment, when used must be of adequate
capacity to maintain the condition of prepared steelwork to the
specified standard.
Cargo hold hatch covers must remain open
during coating curing period.
“For optimum performance
of cargo hold coatings, close
control of dry film thickness
is essential.”

Coatings Application Dry Film Thickness


All products must be applied in line with detailed advice provided by For optimum performance of cargo hold coatings, close control of
International Paint on can (container labels), Product (Technical) Data dry film thickness is essential. Over application may result in slow
Sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets. cure and solvent entrapment, whereas under application can lead to
reduced in service performance.
The coating system must be applied in accordance with the agreed
specification. All coatings should be applied by airless spray, except As a guide, the minimum dry film thickness of a high build cargo
for stripe coats where brush or roller is recommended. hold scheme should be 85% of the specified dry film thickness. The
maximum should not be in excess of double the specified thickness
Airless spray equipment must be in good working order and be
(per coat and total scheme).
capable of performing to the output requirements defined in the
Product (Technical) Data Sheets. For cargo hold areas which are difficult to paint due to their
configuration (e.g. heavily stiffened bulkheads, where a degree of
Air Pressure
overthickness is unavoidable), an excess thickness of 10% over the
Available air pressure and capacity for spray equipment should be at
above maximum is acceptable.
least 5.5kg/cm2 and 1.4m3/min (80 p.s.i. and 50 cfm).
For example, with a 2 x 125 micron dry film thickness scheme
Pump Ratios
(2x4.9 mils) specified, the maximum dry film thickness applied to
It is recommended that airless spray pump ratios of 40:1 or greater
‘difficult areas’ must not exceed 550 microns (21.7 mils).
should be used.

Tip Size
Airless spray tips must be the size stipulated on the Product
(Technical) Data Sheet or as agreed with the International Paint
Representative on site. Tips must be in good condition.

Mixing
Efficient mechanical stirrers or power agitators should be used to
ensure complete mixing of the coating (applicable for 1-pack and
2-pack coatings).

Steel Temperatures
Coatings may only be applied to properly prepared surfaces which
have been maintained in a dry condition with the steel temperature
at least 3°C (5°F) above the dew point for more than one hour.

Cargo hold coating must be carried out under acceptable


atmospheric conditions, otherwise adverse effects may occur.
For example, steel temperatures below 10°C (50°F) may retard
coating cure and may lead to a reduction in coatings performance.

Curing and drying characteristics of coatings are dependent on Airless spray coating application via the use of a mobile platform.

ambient temperature, humidity and ventilation levels employed.


For specific guidelines on the above, please consult your
International Paint Representative.
Stripe Coats
KEY AREAS FOR STRIPE COAT APPLICATION
Stripe coating is an essential part of good painting practice in cargo IN CARGO HOLDS

holds. Typical areas where stripe coats should be applied include: Welded areas on Hatch Coamings
Welded areas of
• backs of stiffeners Frame Feet and
All welded areas
Bracket Toes
on Bulkhead
• cut outs i.e. scallops, etc Corrugations
• welds
• areas of difficult access (corners etc)
• ladders and hand rails Welds between
Hopper Sloping
Plate and Tank Connection of
• areas of properly prepared pitting Top Bulkhead Stool
to Hopper
In general, stripe coats should be applied by brush or roller Sloping Plate

depending on the items concerned. • Areas of properly prepared pitting and ladders/hand rails
(neither shown in above diagram) also require stripe coat application

In exceptional circumstances it may be acceptable to apply a stripe


coat to the backs of stiffeners by narrow-angle airless spray. The use
of spray applied stripe coats however, should be discussed and Safety

agreed with the International Paint Representative on site. The ventilation system must prevent the solvent vapour concentration
in the hold from exceeding 10% of the lower explosive limit (or less
than this if required by local regulations).

Ventilation at this level or at least 5 complete air changes per hour is


required. Provision must be made for 24 hour surveillance of
ventilation equipment.

If, for any reason, the hatch covers cannot be open during coating
application and curing (e.g. as a result of bad weather) the same
ventilation requirements are still needed and should be maintained for
at least 48 hours after completion of coatings application, otherwise
release of solvent from the coatings during drying/curing may create
an explosive atmosphere.
Typical stripe coat application to side shell frames.

Heating
If heating is necessary to satisfy the painting or curing specification it

Ventilation Layout should be by means of a heat exchange system, i.e. air admitted to

During in situ applications, the hatch covers should be open and the hold should not pass directly through a combustion chamber.

forced ventilation (via flexible trunking) should be in place and remain Provision must be made for 24 hour surveillance of equipment.

operational for at least 24 hours after completion of the coating Lighting


application. Lighting during surface preparation and painting must be electrically

Coating solvents are generally heavier than air, and therefore, the protected (Ex) so as not to ignite any solvent vapour. The lighting

ventilation system and trunking must be capable of extending to should provide suitable illumination for all work and be sufficiently

the lower most parts of the hold. Trunking should be arranged so powerful (mains supplied) at all times.

that continuous air movement occurs in all areas and no dead Time to First Cargo Loading
spaces exist. Adequate time must be given to any freshly applied cargo hold

Ventilation must be arranged so as not to re-introduce abrasive dust coating prior to loading the first cargo. The factors which determine

and solvent vapour, for example, into the holds. this period are varied and should be discussed with International
Paint on a case-by-case basis. In all cases hatch covers should
Equipment should be electrically safe; it should be designed so that
remain open for as long as possible after completion of the coating
sparks or hot surfaces/bearings are not in contact with solvent laden
procedure.
air. Fan motors must be outside the extraction airstream.
Guidelines of cure time versus potential coatings damage from a first
loaded cargo are available from International Paint on request.
Repairs
These procedures are recommended for the repair of damages either at the initial coating stage or during
cargo hold maintenance. The procedure recommended will depend upon the type and extent of repair
involved.

Major Repairs Successful completion of cargo hold


refurbishment on typical Panamax bulk carrier.
Where major repairs are required, work should be carried out in accordance with all the previous sections.

Minor Repairs
These are repairs to areas damaged, either at the initial coating stage, (e.g. caused by destaging) or caused
during the in service period (e.g. cargo induced damages, subsequent corrosion etc).
The principle requirements are:
• Fresh water wash to remove all salt contamination and any remaining cargo residues.
• Degrease according to SSPC-SP1 solvent cleaning to remove oil, dirt etc.
• The area to be repaired must be dry.
• Remove any corrosion by means of either:
- vacuum blasting
- mechanical cleaning i.e. disc sander or grinder.
• Abrade coated area immediately surrounding repair to provide a key for subsequent paint adhesion.
• Apply the paint system in accordance with the agreed specification. If small areas are involved and application is by brush (or roller), several coats may
be required to achieve the correct dry film thickness.
• All products must be applied in line with detailed advice provided by International Paint on can (container) labels, Product (Technical) Data Sheets and
Material Safety Data Sheets.
• Consult International Paint for details on minimum cure times prior to cargo loading/service entry following coating repairs.

Health and Safety


Most cargo hold coatings contain volatile flammable organic solvents which can form explosive mixtures with air. Whilst applying cargo hold coatings
the use of personal protection equipment to protect against potential health hazards is required. Appropriate precautions must be taken whilst applying
coatings in the confines of a ship’s cargo hold.
Detailed attention must be given to the following points:
• Danger of explosion or fire.
• Ensure that the holds and surrounding areas are flame and spark-free.
• Provision of adequate ventilation.
• Provision of suitable breathing equipment for workers.
• Prevention of skin irritation.
• Ensure that suitable protective clothing and equipment is available and worn.
• Rescue equipment e.g. independent air supply (air cylinder) to be available for use in emergencies.
• Use only coatings which have been specifically formulated for use in cargo holds.

Consult International Paint for detailed Health and Safety advice.

Cargo hold following full coating refurbishment.


November 2004

International Paint Ltd is part of Akzo Nobel, the Netherlands based company serving customers throughout the world
with healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Consolidated sales for 2003 totalled EUR 13 billion.
Akzo Nobel currently employs approximately 64,300 people in more than 80 countries.

Argentina France New Zealand South Africa


Australia Germany Northern Ireland South Korea
Bahrain Greece Norway Spain
Belgium Hong Kong Pakistan Sri Lanka
Brazil Iceland Panama Sweden
Bulgaria India Papua New Guinea Taiwan
Canada Indonesia Peoples Republic of China Thailand
Chile Iran Peru Turkey
Colombia Italy Philippines U.S.A.
Croatia Japan Poland Ukraine
Cuba Kuwait Portugal United Arab Emirates
Cyprus Latvia Qatar United Kingdom
Denmark Lithuania Republic of Ireland Uruguay
Ecuador Luxembourg Romania Venezuela
Egypt Malaysia Russia Vietnam
Estonia Malta Saudi Arabia Western Samoa
Fiji Mexico Singapore Yemen
Finland Netherlands Slovenia

Important Notes:
All representations and statements concerning the product(s) in this brochure are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Statements made in this
brochure are advisory only and are not intended to be specific recommendations or warranties of any product, combination of products or fitness for any
particular purpose. To the extent permitted by law, we do not accept any liability to any person for any loss or damage (direct or indirect) that may arise
from any use of or reliance on any of the methods or information contained in this brochure for any purpose.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all products supplied and technical advice or recommendations given are subject to the Conditions of Sale of our
supplying company. Any warranties, if given, are contained in those standard Conditions of Sale and are the only ones made with respect to any
products we sell to you or advice or recommendations we give to you.
For each of our products the relevant Product Data Sheet, Material Safety Data Sheet and package labelling comprise an integral information system
about the product in question. Copies of our Product Data Sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets are available on request or from our website:
www.international-marine.com

, International and all products mentioned in this brochure are trademarks of or are licensed to Akzo Nobel.
© Akzo Nobel, 2004
SL12/PI4023

International Paint Ltd, Stoneygate Lane, Felling, Gateshead NE10 0JY.


Tel: +44 (0)191 402 2775 Fax: +44 (0)191 401 2320

www.international-marine.com

You might also like