All you need to know about…

The IMO Performance Standard

for Protective Coatings (PSPC)
New ballast tank regulations for newbuildings
Hempel – the most
effective way to protect
your investment
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the specialist United Nations agency
tasked with improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships.

On 8 December 2006, the IMO adopted the new Performance Standard for Protective
Coatings (PSPC), as resolution MSC.215(82). This important new standard will also be
included in the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (the SOLAS Convention).

The PSPC is intended to improve the safety at sea by reducing the corrosion encountered
in steel ships, and applies specifically to the protective coatings used for dedicated
seawater ballast tanks in all types of ships, and also in the double-side skin spaces of
bulk carriers.
The aim of the PSPC
The aim of the new standard is to improve safety at sea by avoiding the effects of corrosion,
thus enhancing the structural integrity of the vessels as a whole. In specific terms, this
involves a target of 15-year useful coating life for ballast tanks classified as being in good
condition, according to the definition used by the International Association of Classification
Societies (IACS).

The scope of the PSPC

The PSPC applies to newbuildings, and covers protection of the water ballast tanks in all
types of ships of 500 gross tonnage and more as well as double-side skin spaces in bulk
carriers of 150 metres or more in length.

When does the PSPC come into force?

The PSPC enters into force for all shipbuilding contracts placed on or after 1 July 2008.
If there is no building contract, it applies to all keels laid from 1 January 2009 onwards.
It will then apply to all vessels delivered from 1 July 2012 onwards. It will be mandatory,
and an amendment to SOLAS regulations II-1/3-2 and XII/6.

PSPC already applies to the ballast tanks and double-side skin spaces of tankers and bulk
carriers built in accordance with Common Structure Rules (CSR) since 8 December 2006
– the date on which the PSPC standard was adopted.
What does PSPC cover?
The PSPC sets out requirements for improved procedures and better quality control via
increased inspection requirements at all stages within the following three main areas
briefly described below.

Surface preparation
(primary and secondary), including requirements to:
Profile
Cleanliness
Shop primer

Coating application
with requirements that include:
Surface preparation in all stages
Dry film thickness (DFT)
Coating advisers must have FROSIO or NACE certification

Coating quality
including requirements regarding:
Type
Pre-qualification
Specification

Overall, there are significantly increased demand for documentation of the entire coating
process, right from the raw steel plates to the final coating system. These must be compiled
into a Coating Technical File (CTF), which is to be kept on board and maintained throughout
the lifetime of the ship.

See the last two pages for a summary description of specific PSPC requirements.
How will PSPC affect shipowners?
Shipowners will encounter:
The benefits of vessels of higher quality
L ower maintenance costs
Better retention of investment value
Additional costs at newbuilding stage to meet PSPC inspection criteria
A need for better documentation of the maintenance processes associated
with water ballast tank coatings
That paint specifications for newbuildings need to comply with PSPC
That a CTF is to be maintained and kept on board the ship

How will PSPC affect shipyards?

Shipyards might have to consider new production procedures and will
encounter significantly increased demand for documentation, in order to
comply with all PSPC requirements. This will result in:
Extra construction time and slower throughput
 need to have or train more staff to FROSIO or NACE certification to do inspections
A
Possible investments in new facilities and additional manpower
A significantly higher level of documentation required with regards to the selection,
application and inspection of ballast tank coatings
Fewer options left available regarding shop primer, ballast tank coating
systems and dry film thicknesses
A requirement that all inspection data – from raw steel to final coating – are both
retrievable and auditable and made available in the CTF
The need to take responsibility for preparing the CTF

How will PSPC affect coating manufacturers?

Coating manufacturers will encounter:
A greater need for testing and documentation
Increased requirements and costs for obtaining type approvals for water
ballast tank coating systems from external test laboratories
Requirements to participate in preparing the CTF
The need to modify product data sheets to conform with the PSPC
Requirements to specify the maintenance plan to sustain a target of 15-year
useful coating life for the coating system in question
Greater demand for FROSIO or NACE certified personnel to carry out the
required inspection work
How can Hempel help you?
Hempel welcomes and supports regulations and standards like PSPC that
aim at increasing the service life of coatings. By selecting Hempel as your
marine coatings supplier, you will choose the most effective protection for
your investment via:
Expert consultation in any aspect related to coatings

Coating systems and solutions of the highest quality and with proven performance
Coating systems certified and type-approved in full compliance with the PSPC
Exceptional technical service provided by highly skilled and trained coating advisors
who carry out expert inspections and make sure all standards are followed

An integral part of Hempel’s commitment to provide the highest performing coating

solutions is acknowledging the importance of skilled coating advisors. Hempel is an
approved FROSIO training organisation since 1996 and Hempel Academy is continuosly
providing technical training to a large number of both internal and external participants
from coatings related field.

Hempel is committed to improving water ballast tank coating

performance even further via ongoing:
Active participation in developing improved standards
Development of new and innovative coatings solutions
Close collaboration with shipowners, shipyards and classification societies to
ensure the best possible understanding and effective implementation of both
existing and new standards.
Hempel – for the best
possible protection
The Hempel product assortment includes all types of water ballast tank coatings for all
conditions, needs and requirements, already in compliance with the new ballast tank rules.

Please consult your local Hempel sales office or www.hempel.com for more information
about PSPC and how Hempel can help you protect your vessel in the most effective
way possible.
Summary of specific PSPC requirements

Surface preparation
Blasting to Sa 2½ with profiles between 30-75 µm
Soluble salts (equivalent to NaCl) must be removed to less than 50 mg/m2
sodium chloride (lower than the residue left by a normal fingerprint)
Shop primer must be zinc silicate-based (or equivalent) and application and
compatibility with coating system must be documented. If not, at least 70% of
intact shop primer must be cleaned to Sa 2
All sharp edges must be rounded to a radius of 2 mm or more
Visible dust must be removed
There must not be any oil contamination present
Erection joints must be prepared to St 3 or Sa 2. Areas with rust and damaged
coating must be blasted to Sa 2½, if these constitute more than 2% of the
total surface area of the tank

Coating inspection
Coating advisers responsible for inspections must be certified to
FROSIO Level III (Red) or NACE Level II or equivalent.

Inspections must include (but are not limited to):

Surface preparation for all stages, including surface conditions that include
temperature, relative humidity, dew point, salts, oil, grease and other
contamination
For primary surface preparation; Confirmation of the quality and thickness of
the shop primer and its subsequent curing
 block assembly and erection; Visual inspection and measurements of dry
For
film thickness (DFT)
Coating system
Coating must be an epoxy-based system (or some other system with performance
that complies with test procedures)
Use of a multi-coat system that must involve contrasting colours
Top coat must be light in colour to ease inspection
Pre-qualified coating systems must have a B1 rating (DNV Ballast tank
simulation test) and/or 5 years in-service life in GOOD condition
(according to IACS)
2 full coats and 1–2 stripe coats
Minimum Nominal Dry Film Thickness (NDFT) must be 320 µm with the
90/10 rule
Compatibility with zinc silicate shop primer must be documented

CTF (Coating Technical File) must include

as minimum
Statement of compliance or type approval for the coating system

Copy of the Technical Data Sheet for the coating system
The shipyard’s work records regarding application of the coating
Procedures for the inspection and repair of the particular coating system used
A coating log provided by the coating inspector, stating that the coating
was applied in accordance with specifications and to the satisfaction of the
coating supplier
Documentation of the shipyard’s verified inspection, featuring the completion
date, inspection results, any remarks and the relevant signatures
Details about any maintenance and repair of the coating during its service life
Read more at www.hempel.com
 09/2007

The Hempel Group Head Office

Hempel A/S
Lundtoftevej 150
DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby
Denmark

Phone: +45 45 93 38 00
Fax: +45 45 88 55 18
E-mail: protective@dk.hempel.com
E-mail: marine@dk.hempel.com
www.hempel.com