AkzoNobel Protects Ultra Deep Sea Drilling Vessel

Maritime paint and coatings provider AkzoNobel has revealed that its International-line of marine coatings have been used to protect China’s first domestically designed and built ultra deep sea drilling vessel, Meng Xian.

More than 300,000 litres of International coatings have been applied to Meng Xian including the hull, deck, engine room, and ballast tanks. The coatings are designed to protect against the ever-changing ocean conditions and highly-corrosive conditions found offshore. 

The coatings used on Meng Xian include Intershield 300, Intersmooth 7465Si, and Interthane 990. According to AkzoNobel, these coatings combine ‘exceptional weather resistance, along with world-class anti-corrosion and anti-fouling performance’. 

Meng Xian is 180-metres long and has the ability to drill as far as 11,000 metres beneath the ocean into the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. With this capability, it’s expected that Meng Xian will be used for a variety of purposes including; deep-sea resource exploration, ocean scientific drilling, and long-range marine research. 

The ship has also been designed to withstand the most severe weather events (including a super typhoon). It is also able to operate for 120 days continuously at sea. 

Commenting on AkzoNobel’s involvement in Meng Xian, Simon Parker, director of the company’s marine and protective coatings division, said: 

“We were honoured to support this landmark project. We developed a customised solution, applying all our experience and expertise to ensure the vessel is equipped to endure the harsh and unpredictable conditions, while significantly extending its service life”.

Captain Hu Lin from the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey Bureau added:

“This is a significant breakthrough in China’s key technology and equipment for deep-sea exploration. In addition to supplying top quality coating products with exceptional performance, AkzoNobel has also provided comprehensive technical support and on-site services, laying a solid foundation for the vessel’s exploration and research missions”.

This isn’t the first time AkzoNobel has supported Chinese-based ship projects. The company also supplied International products for China’s first domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, and the country’s first domestically-built icebreaker, Xuelong 2.

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