A Coatings Wave of Strategic Partnerships at Marintec China 2025 Signals Deepening Industry Transformation

HZinfo, Following the conclusion of Marintec China 2025, a series of significant partnership agreements were unveiled, collectively addressing the core demands of the shipping industry for green transition, cost reduction, and efficiency enhancement. These collaborations, centered on technologies such as low/ near-zero VOC coatings and high-efficiency antifouling systems, signify a pivotal industry shift—from simple product supply to deep technical cooperation, long-term service agreements, and joint performance validation.

I.  Deepened Collaboration and Integrated Supply Chains Among Chinese Enterprises

Chinese shipbuilding and coating companies are demonstrating a clear path from technological R&D to full industrial chain integration through close collaboration.

Shuangrui Coatings' Comprehensive Model: A subsidiary of the 725th Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), Shuangrui Coatings, along with Shuangrui Environmental Technology and Shuangrui Rubber & Plastics, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) affiliates, "Dachan Industry" and "Dachan Equipment". To address trends in vessel greening and lightweighting, Shuangrui will provide customized high-performance coating and surface engineering solutions for green ship equipment like wind-assisted propulsion systems. By collaborating with Dalian Shipbuilding in areas such as composite laminated wood, they are implementing a new "Strategic Co-development + Supply Chain Integration" model. This move transforms Shuangrui from an internal supplier into a key technical partner involved in front-end design.

COSCO Kansai's Green Supply Chain Initiative: COSCO Kansai Paint & Chemicals Co., Ltd. signed an annual supply agreement for shop primers with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.. COSCO Kansai will supply environmentally friendly shop primers with low VOCs and high corrosion resistance, products previously used in major national projects like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. This aims to establish a stable, green supply chain from the manufacturing source.

II. International Giants Drive Transformation with Advanced Technology and Service Networks

Global coating leaders are providing strong impetus for the industry's transformation through cutting-edge technology and extensive service networks.

Hempel's Landmark Newbuild Contract: Hempel signed a paint supply contract for 18×50K MR tankers with Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) and COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry. The contract covers 9 newbuild vessels, which will be coated with its newly developed Hempaguard NB silicone antifouling solution, specifically designed for application during the newbuilding stage. This technological breakthrough allows for the application of high-efficiency antifouling coatings during construction, eliminating the need for additional dry-docking after delivery. According to Hempel, this solution can help ships achieve up to 20% fuel savings, with an average speed loss of only 1.2%, and provides 120 days of static protection without fouling. The company also highlighted its "Full Lifecycle Hull Management" philosophy at the exhibition, a data-driven model covering all vessel stages.

AkzoNobel Deepens Long-Term Maintenance Partnership: The International® Paint brand under AkzoNobel formally signed a 2026 dry-dock project cooperation agreement with Qingdao Weili International Ship Management. Under the agreement, AkzoNobel will supply several hundred thousand liters of silicone antifouling paint next year. The cooperation, which began in 2016, has seen 25% of Weili's fleet using AkzoNobel's Intersleek® 1100SR product by 2025. This product is an advanced, biocide-free fluoropolymer foul-release coating. Real-world performance data over the past decade indicates that Intersleek 1100SR has helped ships save up to 9% in fuel and significantly reduce CO？ emissions.

Nippon Paint Collaborates on Performance Validation: Nippon Paint signed a technical cooperation agreement with Lloyd's Register. Building on the FASTAR sea trial initiated in 2022, the two parties will further conduct real-ship performance evaluations on the AQUATERRAS and the full FASTAR series antifouling coatings. The goal is to verify their energy-saving performance and carbon reduction potential under actual sailing conditions, providing the industry with credible, evidence-based selection criteria for shipowners.

III. Green Collaboration Extends Beyond the Exhibition Hall

On December 3, 2025, Dowil Coatings and Huayang Maritime Center Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shanghai. They will integrate their technical and operational strengths to promote the market application of solvent-free marine coatings with near-zero VOC emissions. Future plans include jointly developing lifecycle-optimized coating solutions by combining high-solid-content, low-viscosity technology with intelligent methods like underwater robot automatic cleaning. This collaboration is seen as a significant industrial synergy within the shipping industry's green transition.

ConclusionThis wave of partnerships clearly indicates that cooperation models in the shipping industry are evolving beyond simple product transactions. The new paradigm is centered on verifiable performance promises, long-term service commitments, and jointly built technical credibility. Coatings are transitioning from a consumable material into a critical asset that influences a vessel's future competitiveness and regulatory compliance.