Why we paint a ship?
Technically all boats/ships need to be painted unless you can dry them thoroughly every time after use. Which most people can not do it. The most important reason to paint a ship is to stop corroding or rusting.
Another reason to paint a ship is to slow down the marine organisms’ build-up to the hull. Such as barnacles and seaworms like to make a home on the side of ships.
The final reason to paint a ship is to show the ownership of the boat, such as company logos.
What paints are used on ships?
There are many different paints used to protect a ship. 3 basic paints Latex, Enamel, and Epoxy are widely used on ships.
Latex Paints
Latex is a water-based paint. Latex paint is a perfect product for interior and exterior paint jobs. This water-based paint easy to clean up and dries quickly. latex paint is also water-resistant after drying.
Latex paint is best for aluminum boats because of its durability. Do remember to choose latex paint designed for metal.
Enamel paints
Enamel paints are also called alkyd paints or alkyd enamels. Enamel paints are oil-based and very durable. Enamel paint is a good choice for wooden boat.
Enamel paints are easy to apply with a brush or roller. Enamel paints have a very high degree of water resistance, this makes it a perfect choice on boat paint.
Enamel paints like latex paints require very little maintenance once applied.
Epoxy paints
Epoxy paints are also referred to as plastic paints or two-part paints. Epoxy paint is one of the toughest and most durable paint materials on the market.
Epoxy paints are permanent, weather-resistant, and waterproof. It can last between 5 to 10 years.
Epoxy paints are applied mostly on the bottom of the ship ( ship hull). This paint can protect hulls from damage. Epoxy paint is more environmentally friendly than copper-based hull paint. Copper kills marine growth.
What should you paint a ship above the loadline?
Loadline is the line of the ship intersecting with the water when the ship is fully loaded.
The area above the loadline of a ship is always above the water. Normally this area of a ship paint company logos of any color.
The paint used in this part of the ship is UV resistant, so the ship can be protected from sun damage.
What should you paint between loadline and waterline?
Waterline is the line of a ship that meets the surface of the water when the ship is empty.
This area of a ship (between loadling and waterline) is sometimes underwater and sometimes exposed to the sun.
Paint used in this area should have both antifouling and fade resistance functions.
What should you paint ship hull?
Ship hull is the bottom of a ship. It is also the area that always under the water.
Anti-fouling paints are used to coat the bottom of a ship. This area of a ship is always submerged, so sea life such as algae and mollusks may attach to the hull. This sealife will greatly slow down the ship and increase fuel consumption
Anti-fouling paint can prevent these sealife from attaching on the hull. Most underwater paints are shades of red.
Antifouling paints are formulated with copper compounds. Copper particles impede growth of barnacles, algae, and marine organisms. Copper particles are reddish after react with oxygen, that’s why most ship bottoms are red.
Copper particles are not good for marine life. Environmental activists suggest people use less copper compound anti-foul paint. nowadays you are going to see boat bottom painted in black other than red more commonly.
How often are ships painted?
Most people suggest anti-foul paint once every two years to keep your ships in a good shape. A full repaint will be every five years or so.
Where you use your boat and where you store your boat play a vital part in deciding how often you should anti-foul your boat. if you use your boat in warm water most of the time, you probably need anti foul paint once a year. Marine organisms grow fast in warm water, your paint wears out quickly in warm water.
How often you anti foul your boat also decide by where you store your boat. You need paint your boat less often if you store in dry dock.
A ship is well managed or not not only determined by the condition of the anti-foul coating but also on machinery and other maintenance.
What color to choose?
There are many colors to choose from to paint your ships. Most paint colors chosen based on types of ships
Container or cargo ships
container and cargo ships are all kinds of colors.
ship owners use paint color to distinguish their companies and as a brand identity. For example, Maersk’s fleet is always light blue. Maersk registered its light blue color as a trademark. no other ships can use it. Evergreen ships are in green color. OOCL ships are in white.
Cruise ships and yachts
Cruise ships and yachts paint in white most of times
Cruise ships and yachts go to tropical, warm places regularly. White colors reflect most of the sunlight, so the inside of the cruise ship doesn’t get as hot as outside.
It is more efficient for air condition systems to work on cruise ships if the inside is not so hot. It takes less time and electricity to create a comfortable temperature for the people inside ships and yachts.
Navy ships
Navy ships paint grey often
Navalpost.com mentioned that grey is good camouflage color for warships. and that ” the gray color reduces the contrast of the ships with the horizon and reduces the vertical patterns in the ship’s appearance.”
Fishing ship
Depending on owner’s preference, the fishing ship can be any colors
Sailing ship
Most sailing ship in white body color and red bottom
People sail most in the tropical region and white color can reflect the sunlight and keep the interior of the ship cool.
The red bottom is not only for an anti-foul purpose but also makes the boat easy to spot when it turns offshore
