Multi-criteria decision-making methodology for the selection of cargo hold coating for bulk carriers

The coating of cargo holds of bulk carriers constitute the primary source of protection of the vessel’s structure against corrosion, while in the same time ensure the proper cleanliness in holds and thus protection of cargoes against contamination. Therefore, it plays a significant role in the vessel’s commercial operation, trading and lifecycle, making the correct selection of the coating system very important for the shipowner throughout the lifecycle of the vessels (design and construction and operation) and especially during the scheduled maintenance and recoating of the vessel’s cargo holds in dry-dockings. The herein presented study presents a method for ranking and assessing coatings in a systematic, quantitative and qualitative way in terms of the desired merits of the ideal coating system by applying three entirely different coatings at both laboratory and full scale.