Sherwin-Williams’ Euronavy ES301 has been named the 2009 Product of the Year by the Steel Tank Institute. “Sherwin-Williams is extremely pleased to receive this award for an application of one of our most innovative and versatile coatings,” said Brad Rossetto, vice president, marketing, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. “Euronavy ES301 is a durable, moisture- and surface-tolerant coating that allows customers to protect their steel assets against corrosion, even when it is applied in wet and cold conditions.”

The Steel Tank Institute award was based on Euronavy ES301’s use on the Thunder Horse Field Off-Shore drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The production-drilling-headquarters (PDQ) is the world’s largest production semi-submersible ever built.
Coating was required due to hurricane damage and the need to refurbish the top deck plate steel. Euronavy ES301 was chosen due to the following conditions:

• Surface profiles were nearly smooth due to restrictions against abrasive blasting. Euronavy ES 301 adheres well over marginally prepared surfaces and existing coatings, requiring no surface profile. Minimal surface preparation included hydroblasting at pressures up to 40,000 psi (ultra-high pressure jetting in accordance with SSPC-SP12).

• Coating restrictions required painting at night, with application in a moist, humid environment that included salt spray and salt fog. Euronavy ES301 is engineered to cure under cold and wet conditions, with no dew point restrictions. It can be applied in temperatures from 40°F to 120°F, via standard airless application, brush or roller.

Euronavy ES301 was applied by both spray and roller in two coats at 4.0 – 6.0 milliliters dry per coat. Service life of the new coating system, even in the extreme conditions of the Gulf Coast, is expected to exceed 10 years.