Loss Prevention Advice
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Cargo tank coatings serve to shield the mild steel structure from corrosion and act as an insulating barrier between the steel and the cargo. Preserving the condition of these coatings is crucial to maintain cargo purity, preventing contamination and potential claims. The bulletin provides a comparison of zinc silicate and epoxy coatings.
Epoxy
Epoxy tank coatings are organic and fall under a group of coatings each with distinct properties, capabilities and limitations, such as pure epoxy, phenolic epoxy (Novolac), Marineline and Bimodal or Siloxirane. These organic resin systems are mixed with a hardener to form a coating film, creating a three-dimensional cross-linked structure of chemical bonds between the resin molecules.
Epoxy coatings are resistant to strong acids and alkalis. They do not typically absorb significant amounts of oil-like substances, making them suitable to carry CPPs (clean petroleum products), aromatics and most alcohols.
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A recent finding on pilot transfer arrangements presents ongoing safety risks, prompting new SOLAS amendments and performance standards to improve compliance and reduce accidents.
According to Akshat Arora, Regional Loss Prevention Director, UK P&I Club Singapore, despite previous regulatory measures, accidents and fatalities continue to occur due to non-compliant arrangements, poor maintenance, or incorrect rigging of pilot ladders. Recent findings underline the scale of the problem:
- Based on the safety campaign conducted by the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) in May-2025, nearly 14% of transfer arrangements are reported to be non-compliant, with pilot ladders emerging as the most frequent concern.
- According to the latest Safety Bulletin published by Tokyo MOU, deficiencies related to pilot transfer arrangements increased from 197 in 2020 to 523 in 2024, with detentions rising from 1 to 12 in the same period. Common issues include improper securing of ladders, defective steps or ropes, and misuse of accommodation ladders.
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This article provides guidance on cargo tank coatings for chemical and product tankers.
Tank coating systems need to be routinely inspected and maintained. Re-coating is generally required at some point during a vessel’s operational life, typically carried out during dry docking. Vessels are also required to keep the tank coating Manufacturer’s Cargo Resistance Guide onboard at all times and refer to it when planning cargo sequencing and tank cleaning.
This bulletin reviews and compares zinc silicate and epoxy coatings, though stainless steel tanks present an alternative to traditional coated tanks.
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On 18 July 2025, the EU adopted the 18th sanctions package against Russia. These measures can be found in Regulation (EU) 2025/1476 amending Regulation (EU) 833/2014 and Regulation (EU) 2025/1476 amending Regulation (EU) 269/2014. The EU Commission has issued a press release regarding these new measures and FAQs.
New vessel and asset freeze listings 105 vessels have been banned from accessing EU ports or receiving maritime or other services for being part of the Russian “shadow fleet” (Article 3s of EU Regulation 833/2014). The EU has removed three LNG (liquified natural gas) tankers operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines from this list after receiving assurances that they will not transport gas from the Russian Yamal and Arctic 2 projects. 14 individuals and 41 entities have been designated to the E.U. sanctions list (and therefore subject to an asset freeze), including those associated with Coral Energy/2Rivers Group (which is already subject to U.K. asset freeze restrictions), and Nayara Energy Limited (an Indian refinery in which Rosneft has a major shareholding).