See The leisure marine industry is no exception to this trend and government legislators are keen to introduce laws reducing emissions into the environment.

The coatings industry faces the challenge of producing effective products for its customers which comply with ever tightening environmental laws. This article highlights some of the issues facing marine paint manufacturers and discusses how we are reacting and preparing to provide products which will comply with both today’s and tomorrow’s legislation.

Hull fouling and antifouling paints
Prevention of settlement and growth of sea creatures on the hulls of boats is essential, if vessels are to operate efficiently and safely. If left unchecked, fouling will result in an increase in fuel consumption and on engine wear, resulting in more harmful emissions into the environment.

A fouled hull can also bring a loss of manoeuvrability which compromises the safety of boating. An unprotected hull has been shown to provide an opportunity for non-native species brought in from overseas to hitch a ride into new waters where they may flourish, out-competing native species and disturbing the ecological balance in sensitive areas.

Control of fouling on the hull is thus a key element in minimising the environmental footprint of all types of boats and ships.

Probably the most scrutinised area of marine coatings is biocidal antifouling paints. Once applied to the hull, small amounts of biocide are released from the paint film over time, preventing settlement of algae and barnacles on the hull.

Supply of effective but greener antifouling paints to the boating industry has been our primary aim for many years. Biocides have been introduced which quickly degrade in water and new sophisticated antifouling paint compositions have been developed which release the minimal amount of biocide required to be effective.

Experts from the paint industry have been working with government regulators to encourage a practical and pragmatic approach in their reviews of antifouling products. If common sense prevails, boat owners can expect efficient and safe antifouling paints to be available to them after 2010.

Solvent legislation
Under pressure to reduce air pollution and to address the ecological impact of solvents emitted from industrial activities, the European authorities passed a series of laws restricting emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across Europe.

In recent years this has significantly impacted industries such as auto manufacturing and building construction/decoration, but now these restrictions are affecting boatyards too.

As in the case of antifoulings, the coatings industry is representing the interests of the yacht industry alongside its partners in the marine industry trade association, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), to ensure regulations are implemented fairly and pragmatically across the EU.

In the case of VOC regulations, boatyards in the EU applying paints are directly affected. The legislation, known as the Solvent Emissions Directive (SED), divides facilities emitting VOCs into three tiers depending on the amounts used.

In the case of boatyards:

• Yards using below a total of five tonnes of solvent per year

• Yards using between a total of five and 15 tonnes per year

• Yards using above a total of 15 tonnes per year

For yards using below the five tonne threshold there is currently no action to be taken. Five tonnes may sound like a lot of solvent, but in terms of the amount of paint used, a yard could easily be at the limit if more than 10 pallets of paint are used per year and solvents used for cleaning equipment, wiping down surfaces and solvent found in cleaning products, sealants and adhesives are also included.

In reality, solvent consumption in a boatyard can be up to 40% more than that which is present in paint alone.

So what does all this mean for the marine industry? Yards in either the second or third tier will have to register with local environmental authorities and comply with restrictions on the amount of solvent that can be emitted. From the end of October 2007, new VOC emission reduction targets applied, reducing emissions permitted from boatyards. In the second tier the total amount of VOCs emitted must not exceed 37% by weight of the total weight of wet paint applied in the yard.

In the third tier, permitted VOC emissions must be reduced to 27%. As an alternative to making these reductions in solvent use, the legislation allows yards to take all coating operations indoors and vent and remove VOC emissions from waste gases before they are released into the atmosphere. In most cases this option is seen as unrealistic practically or economically.

Fines
A yard failing to work within these restrictions faces fines of up to €2,500 per week along with temporary shutdown and revocation of any environmental permits.

As yards are forced to meet new limits on the amount of VOC that can be used, paint products containing less solvent will be required to help the yards comply. Along with the marine trades association ICOMIA, the coatings industry has been working to ensure the SED is implemented consistently and practically across the EU, allowing yards the flexibility to select the mix of products they need to comply whilst maintaining the high level of performance demanded by boat owners.

Such a mix of products could include use of solvent free adhesives where dry times might be less important, the use of water based cleaning products and high solids paint products in the priming stages prior to topcoat and undercoat.

In this way the high cosmetic standards demanded for topcoats applied to boats and superyachts, at present unachievable with products containing less solvent, could be maintained with minimum impact on product performance.

Tools to help yards calculate their annual solvent emission under the SED have been introduced across Europe by ICOMIA and the coatings industry.

In the way
What stands in the way of the introduction of the new VOC reduction targets across the EU is the potential for different approaches to implementation by the various member states of the EU.

The marine industry as a whole is lobbying for a consistent approach to implementation of this directive. Readers may be wondering why they have not heard about this before.

The timetable for compliance and a slow rate of implementation by national governments are probably key factors. The first limits targets for VOC reductions only came into effect in October 2005 and several member states have not fully implemented these into their national statute books, so compliance has not been an issue until now.

But from October 2007 new stricter limits applied and the EU authorities will expect wider adoption of this directive across Europe.

The REACH regulations
In June 2007 a new set of European Regulations - the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) - came into force affecting every chemical used in any product manufactured or imported into the EU. This includes components of all paint products.

These all-encompassing rules set out a plan to review the environmental impact and safety of all chemicals over an 11 year timescale, the most hazardous to be reviewed within three years.

Ultimately the use of every chemical will be reviewed and only those uses proven safe will be registered for use. Use of unregistered substances will be illegal.

As is the case with biocides used in antifouling paints, expensive experimental data will be needed from manufacturers to register their substances. Some key raw materials used in coatings may not be available going forward as suppliers opt to cease to produce certain raw materials due to the costs involved in registration.

At greatest risk are raw materials purchased from smaller suppliers, unable to pay to generate data required for registration.

After pre-registration of all substances, the first to be reviewed will be all hazardous substances classified by the EU as having properties that may cause cancer, mutations or damage to reproduction in humans.

Also up for early review within three years are chemicals known to be highly persistent in the environment and those with potential to accumulate in the food chain. Once reviewed continued use will only be permitted, or ‘authorised’, if less hazardous alternative chemicals do not exist.

Many of these chemicals were removed from yacht and marine paint products several years ago. However there may be some products where alternative chemicals do not yet exist and compromises in product performance may have to be made if authorities fail to grant an authorisation to use a substance.

Other substances will be reviewed and registered over an 18 year time period, with substances used in the highest volumes considered first.

How are we, as a coatings supplier, preparing for the impact of REACH? We are reliant on our raw material suppliers to register their substances so we can keep using them in our products.

This demands a special relationship with our suppliers and an exchange of information has begun to ensure all our key raw materials will continue to be available to us under REACH.

In addition we are working with regulators and trade associations to ensure that uses of our products are fully understood so that the chemicals used in them are assessed accurately and fairly.

Keeping ahead
How do we as a coatings manufacturer develop products which comply with complex legislation? How can we anticipate what we will face in the future and ensure our new products will comply and be available to customers in the foreseeable future?

For many years we have operated an active Product Stewardship programme initiative where product safety and environmental impact is a key consideration throughout the product life cycle and in everything we do. Unacceptable substances have been removed from our product range and substituted with equally efficient alternatives. The way we communicate guidance to our customers on the safe use of products is regularly reviewed. Our product development chemists focus on developing products with a viable long-term future and a key part of this is anticipation of future environmental legislation.

This is where the experienced regulatory affairs expert can make a significant contribution to the business and play a key role in design of sustainable products for the future.

Looking forward it is clear that the paint industry faces a plethora of new environmental regulations. New regulations put constraints on the substances we can use in products but by fully understanding our customers’ needs and anticipating the effect of regulations and the changes they will bring, the boater can be sure that we will continue to provide effective and compliant products to the industry.

Dr Julian Hunter is product regulatory affairs manager at International Paint

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Paints & Coatings Products

Marclear 2000 Ltd is now appointed the UK distributor for the Marclear International product range
In a manufacturing and sales market dominated by multinational companies Marclear International is one of the few independent paint manufacturers.
Marclear High Strength antifouling has been in production for some 20 years, tried, tested and very effective in both warm and cold water conditions using the maximum level of cuprous oxide by volume legally permitted. Although the paint is a self-polishing product it is suitable for both sailing yachts and powerboats and is compatible with most other copper based antifoul paints.
Also in the range are smooth and hammered metal paints, metal primers and varnishes
We can make a difference offering a high level of service, high quality products and stunning margins!
We are always looking to add new Application centres and Area distributors to our portfolio.

Marclear 2000 Ltd
Unit 6 The Slipway
Port Solent Marina
Portsmouth
Hampshire PO6 4TR
T: 023 92327067
F: 023 92381733
W: www.marclear.co.uk
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Introducing an improved version of Seajet’s premium anti-foul product for 2008
Seajet’s 039 Platinum is a highly advanced, multi-season, self-polishing anti-foul designed to perform well in a wide range of popular boating areas such as Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and in particular, the warm waters of the Caribbean, where fouling is often found to be at its very worst.
Platinum can be regarded as an ideal ‘blue water’ cruising product and, provided sufficient coatings are applied from the outset, reliable hull protection for up to three seasons can be expected. As a result, Platinum is perfectly suited to yachts wishing to cruise for extended periods of time, where often even finding a boatyard able to haul out a vessel to re-apply anti-fouling can be a difficult, costly and inconvenient proposition.
In the vast majority of cases, and as long as the general condition of the hull and existing coating is sound, 039 Platinum can be applied directly on top of existing antifoul coatings.
Occasional exceptions apply and Seajet advise seeking 100% confirmation before proceeding.
Prior to application Component B needs to be mixed into Component A, gradually, by 4 x 25% proportions at a time, whilst continually stirring to achieve a homogenous and consistent product.
Then application by spray or mohair roller should occur no later than 36 hours after mixing.
Owners can work out how much quantity they need by basing their calculation upon a coverage rate of between 9-10 sq m/litre. The net result is a product with an improved and more consistent performance with better stability during the process of delivery from the factory in Holland to Seajet’s customers worldwide.
UK RRP: 2.0litre tins UK RRP £95.00/4.0litre tins RRP £174.99

Introducing new Seajet Brilliance Ultimate performance, high-gloss top coat for yachts
Seajet Paints are extremely pleased to announce the introduction of Seajet Brilliance - a new, urethane-resin based high performance top coat for the 2008 season.
Brilliance is an easy to apply product with a durable, high-gloss finish, resistant to minor knocks and intended for both interior and exterior (above-the-waterline) use. A high concentration of superior UV filters and unique ‘smooth-flowing’ consistency means that Seajet Brilliance can retain its gloss and colour levels for up to 2 times longer than conventional Alkyd or Silicone Alkyd products.
Depending upon the condition of the existing (hull) surface, and following any necessary preparation or repair required, Seajet recommend applying a minimum of two coats, ideally on top of Seajet Universal Primer/Undercoat, to ensure a smooth and even colour result.
Supplied in a choice of seven different colours and in 750ml tins, Brilliance is ideally suited for application by brush, but can also be applied by roller or spray.
UK RRP: £ 21.49 / 750ml

See below for pictures of Seajet products. For information on Seajet products, contact:
Marine and Industrial LLP
Station Road
Worstead
North Walsham
Norfolk NR28 9SB
T: 01692 406 822
E: sales@marineindustrial.co.uk
W: seajetpaint.com

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Teamac continues improvement of their range of marine paints for 2008
Teal & Mackrill Ltd have extended the range of colours for their 2 pack, high performance Teamac Gloss Paints; eight colours are now available, with special colours to order.
The Teamac 2 pack system provides an even tougher finish than traditional gloss finishes and is ideal for areas such as decks and stairways which have high foot traffic.
The TEAMAC range of marine paints also includes anti-slip deck paints, yacht varnishes, marine gloss, undercoats and primers as well as their range of antifoulings which include the award winning Teamac Anti-fouling ‘D’ and Teamac Tropical Killer Anti-fouling.
Teamac Anti-fouling 'D' is a strong ablative anti fouling containing a fully approved blend of biocides offering excellent performance which will work at speeds of up to 25 knots.
Teamac Tropical Killer Anti-fouling is now available in two new colours - Black and Blue - as well as the original Red.
Other products include ‘Glocote’ fluorescent paints, luminous paints and ‘Hammercote’ hammered and smooth enamel paints.
Teal & Mackrill's policy of continued improvement ensure that all their products meet the latest technical requirements. Full technical specifications and HSE data are available for all their paints and finishes.
Teamac also produce a range of agricultural paints and finishes and full details can be seen on their website. See below for a picture of the Teamac range.

Teal & Mackrill Ltd
Lockwood Street
Hull HU2 0HN
T: +44 (0) 1482 320194
F: +44 (0) 1482 219266
W: teamac.co.uk

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