Ballast tanks are among the most demanding spaces in a ship: permanent seawater immersion alternating with void conditions, no natural light, poor ventilation, and limited access for repair once the vessel is in service. IMO's Performance Standard for Protective Coatings sets out what a compliant system looks like, and it is as much about preparation and inspection as about the paint itself.
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Ship ballast water tanks
Epoxy systems for ballast tanks under IMO PSPC, including surface preparation, stripe coating and inspection requirements.
CorrosivityImmersion, seawater, C5-M internally
Typical service life15 years (PSPC target)
Recommended coating system
| Layer | Type & DFT | Product examples |
|---|---|---|
| Primer / build | Pure or high-solids epoxy, light colour, 2 coats | Pure epoxy tank coating |
| Total DFT | 320 µm nominal (PSPC minimum) | According to IMO PSPC |
| Stripe coat | Applied by brush before full coats on edges and welds | Same product as the main coat |
| Secondary surfaces | May use different product; same protection level | As per coated area |
Application critical points
- Surface preparation grade and salt contamination limits are specified explicitly under PSPC — visual cleanliness alone is not accepted evidence.
- Light-coloured coatings are normally required so that defects and corrosion are visible during inspection.
- Ambient conditions — steel temperature above dew point, relative humidity, ventilation — must be recorded continuously during application and curing.
- Repair after delivery follows the same standard as the original application; a coil or a small touch-up patch is judged against the same criteria.
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Articles are compiled by RichTech from publicly available manufacturer materials and field practice, for selection reference only; the latest official technical data sheets (TDS) prevail.
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