Performance Standards for Protective Coatings Workgroup
The International Paint and Printing Ink Council (IPPIC) Performance Standards for Protective Coatings Working Group (PSPC WG) was formed to address the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) program establishing a uniform performance standards for anti-corrosion protective coatings which are applied to ballast tanks, crude oil tanker cargo holds, and void spaces. Effective coatings to prevent corrosion of these critical areas are essential to preclude their breaching and causing catastrophic loss of life.
Established by IPPIC member companies, the work group in 2010 successfully concluded the development of the major elements of a test protocol to be used in ascertaining the effectiveness of protective coatings for crude oil tanker holds.
This was done under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization which agreed to IPPIC’s recommendations including, additional time in which to resolve lingering issues. In developing the test protocol the IPPIC PSPC WG included independent testing labs, certification societies, shipyards, and ship owners— all of the major interests affected by the standards. The Work Group’s current projects include further refinement of the test protocol and a renewed effort concerning the implementation of the IMO ballast water tank requirements for invasive species treatment systems and their potential impact upon ballast water protective coatings.
Public documents and information:
IPPIC PSPC Workgroup DE-53 Presentation
IPPIC PSPC Workgroup Summary of Testing Procedure and Standard Development for Cargo Oil Tanks:
Ballast Water Management Systems-The Coatings Industry Perspective
MEPC63/INF.9 Compatibility Between Ballast Water Management Systems and Ballast Tank Coatings
Questions? Contact John Hopewell at jhopewell@paint.org