AkzoNobel marine paint protects deep-sea drillship from corrosion and fouling

Christened the Christened Dream, the Chinese deep-sea drilling vessel has the ability to drill up to 11,000 meters deep into the earth's crust and upper mantle. The nearly 180-meter-long vessel will perform multiple tasks, including deep-sea resource exploration, scientific drilling and long-range research at sea. The entire vessel, including the hull, deck, engine room and ballast tanks, has been coated with AkzoNobel International marine coatings, which provide a protective shield against the ever-changing marine conditions. "We were honored to support this groundbreaking project," says Simon Parker, head of the company's Marine and Protective Coatings business. "We have developed a bespoke solution using all of our experience and expertise to ensure that the vessel is equipped to cope with the harsh and unpredictable conditions while significantly extending its life."

Captain Hu Lin of Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey Bureau added: "This is a major breakthrough in China's key technology and equipment for deep-sea exploration. AkzoNobel has not only supplied high-quality coating products with exceptional performance, but also provided comprehensive technical support and on-site services, laying a solid foundation for the vessel's exploration and research missions." The Christened Dream is capable of withstanding a super typhoon and operating continuously at sea for 120 days. She is finished with a comprehensive range of coatings from the International paint series, including Intershield 300, Intersmooth 7465Si and Interthane 990, which provide exceptional weather resistance as well as superior corrosion and fouling protection. AkzoNobel also supplied International products for China's first domestically-built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, and the first domestically-built icebreaker, Xuelong 2.