Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC), based in Avon, Ohio, has initiated a recoating program for six 25,000 DWT tankers owned by Sterling Ocean Shipping. The project involves applying APC's MarineLINE coating system to these vessels. This specialized coating is designed to provide significant operational advantages, including improved efficiency and greater flexibility in cargo types that can be transported.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this development signifies a potential increase in the operational flexibility of Sterling Ocean Shipping's fleet. Tankers with advanced coatings like MarineLINE can carry a wider range of chemical cargoes, reducing the need for extensive tank cleaning between different shipments. This could lead to faster turnaround times at ports and potentially more reliable scheduling for chemical and specialized liquid cargo movements. Enhanced efficiency might also contribute to more competitive freight rates for specific routes where these vessels operate, as operational costs related to cleaning and maintenance could decrease. Forwarders should monitor how this impacts Sterling Ocean Shipping's service offerings and capacity in the chemical tanker market.
