World's first international standard for passenger ship coating technology published under China's leadership

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published the world's first international standard dedicated to passenger ship coating technology. Titled 'Ships and marine technology — Requirements for coating technology on superstructures of passenger ships', the standard was developed under China's leadership, incorporating expertise from nations including Italy, South Korea, and Denmark. This marks a significant contribution by China in the field of advanced passenger vessel coating.

Historically, the coating process in shipbuilding has faced challenges such as extensive labor, high paint consumption, lengthy project timelines, and frequent overlapping operations. These issues are particularly acute in the construction of passenger ships like ferries and cruise liners. The superstructures of these vessels can span up to 20 decks and primarily consist of living areas, further increasing the scope and complexity of coating work. This not only results in substantial consumption of labor and materials but also leads to significant emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), posing a severe environmental challenge and hindering the high-quality development of the global passenger ship sector.

The new standard aims to address these challenges by categorizing passenger ship superstructures into two zones—cold and warm—based on differing corrosion resistance conditions. Each zone receives a differentiated coating technology plan, with more stringent requirements for colder areas. This approach ensures the reliability and durability of the coating while significantly reducing paint usage and labor. It minimizes safety risks associated with overlapping work and curtails VOC emissions, contributing to both economic efficiency and environmental protection.

This standard's development aligns with the global growth of maritime tourism and the shipping industry's decarbonization goals. It provides a unified and dependable framework for passenger ship coating. Recent data highlights the robust performance of China's shipbuilding industry, with new orders reaching record highs in the first half of the year.