Corrosion protection demand climbs as bulk carriers age, Steelpaint says

Shipowners want to extend the service life of ageing vessels.

Demand for corrosion protection systems for bulk carrier cargo holds is rising as shipowners seek to extend the service life of ageing vessels, Steelpaint said amidst slower newbuilding deliveries.

Li Yinlong, General Manager of Steelpaint China, said owners are reassessing maintenance strategies as operators retain vessels in service for longer.

"The last major newbuilding peak for bulk carriers was around 2010," Li said. "That means the average bulk carrier is now around 15 or 16 years old and cargo hold steel condition continues to deteriorate year by year."

More operators are choosing to retain vessels in service for longer, increasing demand for corrosion protection on cargo hold tank tops and other high-wear areas.

"Because of the current balance between supply and demand, together with the slower pace of fleet renewal, shipowners are willing to keep ageing vessels operating for longer," he said.

Li emphasised the importance of corrosion prevention as shipowners look for ways to prolong the lifespan of a vessel, reduce future docking costs, and minimise the risk of replacing steel on tank tops and lower hopper areas.

Steelpaint said it is recording more trial applications of its corrosion protection system for cargo hold tank tops, with many projects progressing to full cargo holds and fleet-wide orders.

The company undertakes about 10 trial applications each year and said heavy-duty cargo hold projects contribute annual growth of 10% to 15%.

For decades, many bulk carrier owners left cargo hold tank tops uncoated because loading and unloading cargoes such as iron ore, coal and aggregates caused repeated impact damage.

Owners also raised concerns that damaged coatings could contaminate cargo, whilst providing limited protection.

"Shipowners are naturally cautious. They don't want to be the first to try something new, but they certainly don't want to be the last. Once operators see comparable vessels successfully using the system, confidence grows," said Frank Müller, Director of Steelpaint.

Steelpaint said classification societies monitor cargo hold steel thickness throughout a vessel's service life and corrosion can require owners to replace steel during drydockings.

It estimates that planned coating maintenance and periodic repairs could reduce lifecycle costs by up to $4.5m for a large bulk carrier by avoiding steel renewal and reducing off-hire periods.

Based on current projects, Li said demand for corrosion protection systems is likely to continue over the next five years.

As of June 2026, Steelpaint had completed work on 11 Berge Bulk vessels and projects for Anglo-Eastern, MUR Shipping, Maran Dry Management, Xiamen Minhua Shipping, and Lomar Shipping. A full tank top application for Load Line Group is scheduled to begin shortly.

The company said recent projects have been completed at Chinese repair yards including Youlian Shipyard, Xinya Dockyard, Qingdao Beihai Shipyard, and Shanghai Yuan Shipyard, covering tank tops, lower hopper and stool sections, bulkheads, and hatch coamings.