Recently, the hull outer plate painting of Dalian COSCO Shipping KHI’s first 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship (DE148) successfully passed the owner’s acceptance inspection, marking the successful implementation of air-assisted spraying technology in the unified spraying process of the ship’s outer plates. This is a significant breakthrough for the company in practicing the “dual carbon” strategy and advancing green production to a deeper level, providing a replicable and scalable “model solution” for the low-carbon transformation of the painting process in the shipbuilding industry.
Facing Pain Points Directly, Solving the Mandatory Question of Green Transformation with Technology
The unified spraying of the outer plates before a ship’s launch has long been constrained by windy weather, with prominent issues such as paint mist dispersion, high VOCs emissions, and material waste. Traditional airless spraying struggles to balance environmental protection indicators and construction quality. Facing this common industry challenge, the company formed a special task force. After multiple rounds of research, demonstration, and on-site trials, it decisively introduced air-assisted spraying technology and applied it first to the inaugural ultra-large methanol dual-fuel container ship. This move directly targets the “deep water zone” of green production, responding to rigid environmental constraints through technological breakthroughs, demonstrating the company’s determination and boldness in pursuing green development.
Technology Empowerment, Visible “Win-Win” of Environmental and Economic Benefits
Air-assisted spraying, by adding an auxiliary air outlet at the spray gun nozzle, effectively suppresses paint mist dispersion while significantly improving atomization fineness. During the actual construction of the DE148 vessel, the owners from the container shipping supervision team provided strong support and careful guidance, laying a solid foundation for the successful implementation of the new process and delivering impressive results.
Quality Leap: The glossiness and uniformity of the paint film were significantly optimized, earning high praise from the owner;
Cost Reduction and Efficiency Increase: The comprehensive paint consumption coefficient was reduced by 12.4%, saving approximately 165,000 RMB in paint costs for the single ship’s outer plate unified spraying; the surface roughness of the antifouling paint decreased by 18.4%, contributing to drag reduction and fuel saving during long-term ship operation;
Green Emission Reduction: VOCs and paint mist emissions were substantially reduced, injecting substantial momentum into the factory’s green upgrade.
Behind these sets of data lies a vivid interpretation of the concept that “green equals benefit” through technological innovation.
Moving Towards Innovation, Integrating Green Genes into the Entire Production Chain
This successful application is another manifestation of Dalian COSCO Shipping KHI driving green production through technological innovation, and another powerful practice of the company on the green and low-carbon track. Going forward, the company will continue to expand the routine application of air-assisted spraying technology in more scenarios such as outer plates, accommodation exterior walls, and decks, further reducing energy consumption and emissions, transforming technological advantages into environmental and economic benefits. It aims to be a pacesetter in the shipbuilding industry’s journey towards zero carbon, injecting new green momentum into the industry’s high-quality development with more solid green footprints.
