AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel has extended its Chinese marine coatings partnership to accelerate transition to sustainable shipping.

A strategic agreement has been signed between AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings business and Winning Shipping in China which will help accelerate the maritime industry’s transition to lower carbon operations.

The two companies have been partners since 2016 and the expanded collaboration will involve AkzoNobel supplying a significant volume of International® coatings for a number of drydocking projects in 2026. Focused on six vessels, it will enhance the fleet’s operational efficiency and environmental performance. At the core of the latest agreement is Intersleek® 1100SR product – the world’s first biocide-free fouling control coating to feature patented “slime release” technology. It delivers outstanding fouling control and significantly reduces hull resistance, helping fleets to save fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“The outstanding performance of International has been fully validated in our existing fleet, delivering significant fuel savings and enhancing our market competitiveness,” says Yu Shan, General Manager of Qingdao Winning International Ship Management Co., Ltd. This is why we’ve chosen to extend and deepen our partnership. Through this drydocking cooperation, we look forward to more vessels benefiting from these more sustainable advanced technologies, jointly contributing to a greener future for the industry.”

Photo: The Winning Youth bulk carrier is coated with products supplied by AkzoNobel

Following the International Maritime Organization’s introduction of emission reduction regulations, shipping companies are addressing their carbon footprint and actively adopting measures to optimize energy efficiency. China is also speeding up the implementation of its “Dual Carbon” strategy in the maritime sector, promoting the widespread adoption of more sustainable technologies. “We’re honoured to continue and deepen our strategic cooperation,” said Rob Leslie, Commercial Director of AkzoNobel Marine and Protective Coatings in Greater China. “Winning Shipping’s unwavering pursuit of more efficient operations aligns perfectly with our philosophy of helping customers through sustainable innovation. We look forward to providing solid support for the long-term operational efficiency and sustainable development goals of its fleet.”

In addition to Intersleek 1100SR, International will also supply the project with its Intercept® 8500 LPP antifouling coating, which combines linear polishing with an optimized biocide package. This is the highest performing antifouling product within the International range, specifically designed for deep sea vessels.

This agreement was signed during the recent Marintec China 2025 event, one of the world’s leading maritime industry exhibitions.

Learn more about AkzoNobel’s marine coatings.

Hempel

Hempel A/S has launched the latest addition to the Hempaline Defend family; Hempaline Defend 430, a next-generation tank lining created to help energy operators boost efficiency, minimise downtime and extend maintenance intervals. The solvent-free, epoxy phenolic lining streamlines application, lowers energy use during installation and supports more sustainable operations by reducing VOC emissions and workplace hazards. By combining single-coat efficiency with rapid curing and long-term durability, Hempaline Defend 430 enables asset owners to keep tanks in service longer while lowering lifecycle costs.

Hempaline Defend is a range of high-performance lining solutions engineered for the demanding conditions of the energy and process industries. Designed to withstand corrosion, high temperatures, abrasion and exposure to a wide spectrum of chemicals and solvents, these linings provide reliable long-term protection. By reducing maintenance needs and extending service life, Hempaline Defend helps operators maximise uptime and lower total lifecycle costs. “After a trial application with a major tank builder, customer feedback was that the shorter inspection time, compared to their existing lining, would significantly improve output in their workshop,” Matthew Fletcher, Segment Development Manager, Linings at Hempel A/S commented that: “With Hempaline Defend 430, asset owners benefit from a solvent-free lining that can be applied in a single coat, returned to service quickly and approved even for the most sensitive cargos and with a temperature resistance up to 90°C and strong hydrocarbon resistance, Defend 430 truly offers a versatile one-product solution for storage tanks.”

Key technical highlights:
• Solvent-free epoxy phenolic lining for energy storage tanks
• Single-coat application at 400 µm (16 mil’s)
• Rapid return to service: 3 days at 20°C
• Withstands crude oil up to 93°C (200°F)
• Approved for potable water (WRAS) and jet fuel (EI1541)
• Inspection interval extension up to 5 years (API 652 & 653 compliant with optional glass fibre mat reinforcement)
• Compatible with Hempaline Prepare 130 primer for immersion up to 90°C

You can learn more about Hempaline Defend right here.

Oceaneering

Oceaneering Wins ASQE Diamond Award for Quality Excellence

Photo: The ASQE Diamond Award

Houston, Texas – Oceaneering International, Inc. has been honoured with the American Society for Quality and Excellence (ASQE) Diamond Award, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the quality industry. Oceaneering was one of only two companies selected for this award in 2025, reflecting a commitment to performance excellence and innovation.

The Diamond Award is presented to organizations that achieve the highest maturity scores in the annual Insights on Excellence® (IoE) Benchmarking Tool survey. This recognition signifies exceptional standards of quality and continuous improvement, recognizing organizations that integrate best practices into every aspect of their operations.

Oceaneering’s 2025 results demonstrate a progressive Quality culture, as defined in the IoE maturity model, and predictable and consistent delivery of services and products that meet or exceed customer expectations. Winners were recognized during the Excellence Roundtable event in November, coinciding with World Quality Month.

Julie Sitzmann, Director, Quality Solutions, at Oceaneering, said: “Oceaneering is committed to performance excellence, and this recognition reflects that our quality management system and culture are delivering as intended. We are proud to be one of only two companies honoured with the Diamond Award, which highlights our commitment to quality and consistent execution across the organization.”

Learn more about Oceaneering’s approach to Quality.

TÜV Rheinland, (Technischer Überwachungsverein) are a very well-established ICorr/ARL (Argyll Ruane Ltd) Training partner.

They have issued 133x ICorr Training Certifications and 68x ICorr Training Re-Certifications in 2025 alone, from their Shanghai Training Centre.

Jing Anita Fang is the Key Account Manager for TUV Rheinland in China.

Photo: TUV HQ, Shanghai

About TÜV Rheinland

TÜV Rheinland, founded in 1872, is a global leader in technical services, providing safe and sustainable solutions for the interaction between humans, the environment, and technology. Since 1996, they have offered training and personnel certification in China, being Europe’s largest independent education institute. TÜV Rheinland Industrial Services Greater China, comprising world-leading experts, delivers technical inspection, testing, and certification for the oil, gas, chemical, petrochemical, energy, power, construction, and process industries worldwide. Their comprehensive services ensure products and equipment meet market requirements, supporting local industries in developing safely and sustainably.

History with ICorr

In collaboration with Argyll Ruane, TÜV Rheinland has successfully introduced ICorr training to China, becoming the sole ICorr training provider in the country in 2018. On-site training is conducted in coastal cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao, Zhuhai, Qidong, and Zhoushan, where numerous international offshore FSPO and LNG projects are active. During 2024, ICorr, TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd., and Argyll Ruane (Sheffield, UK) celebrated 7 years’ collaboration, and achieved the 1000^th ICorr Certificate issue in China. In the same year, Protective Coating Inspector Training Level II and Level III have been delivered by TÜV Rheinland, where all ICorr surface treatment courses are available for the candidates in China now.

Photo: Recent TUV ICorr Level 2 Inspector Candidates

TUV have some excellent teaching facilities located in Shanghai, very near to the beautiful Daning Lingshi Park https://hillsshanghai.com/blogs/explore-shanghai/daning-lingshi-park-shanghais-urban-oasis-of-blooms-waterways

Photo: All ready for the 2025 Festive Season ahead, successful TUV ICorr Level 2 Protective Coating Inspector Candidates

TUV China corrosion prevention courses are offered through ICorr Training Partner Argyll Ruane Ltd Global Leaders in NDT, Corrosion and Coatings Training

Sheffield, England  

4 Europa View
Sheffield Business Park
Sheffield S9 1XH

The President of the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), Dr Yunnan Gao, was honoured to host Professor Xiaogang Li, President of the Chinese Society for Corrosion and Protection (CSCP) https://www.cscp.org.cn/ during a significant multi-day visit to the United Kingdom in November 2025. This most welcome visit marked another historic milestone in UK-China cooperation in corrosion science and technology and reflects the growing international influence of Professor Li – one of the world’s most distinguished leaders in corrosion science and engineering.

Professor Li, who also serves as Professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Director of the National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Centre, and Editor-in-Chief of npj Materials Degradation https://www.nature.com/npjmatdeg/ travelled to the UK with a CSCP delegation to deepen academic, industrial, and institutional collaboration with ICorr and leading UK research organisations.

Strategic Visit to The University of Manchester

The first stop of the visit was The University of Manchester https://www.materials.manchester.ac.uk/ where the ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, welcomed Professor Li and the CSCP delegation. Discussions centred on establishing structured pathways for knowledge exchange, joint workshops, and collaborative programmes in corrosion science, materials degradation, and advanced characterisation.

Photo 1: Collaboration Meeting at The University of Manchester. Professor Dirk Engelberg of Manchester University Giving a Presentation.

The delegation toured Manchester’s world-class materials and corrosion research facilities, including advanced electron microscopy laboratories and the Henry Royce Institute hub https://www.royce.ac.uk/ guided by Professor Xiaorong Zhou and Professor Dirk Engelberg, both internationally recognised leaders in corrosion and structural materials.

Photo 2: CSCP President Professor Xiaogang Li (L3), ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao (R2) and the Whole Delegation Hosted by Manchester University Professor Xiaorong Zhou (L2) and the Team at Henry Royce Institute, Manchester University.

These engagements highlighted strong synergies between UK and Chinese research capabilities in environmental degradation, data-driven modelling, and materials genome methodologies—areas strongly aligned with Professor Li’s pioneering work in corrosion big data.

Visit to the University of Leeds

The delegation then travelled to the University of Leeds https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering-research-innovation where they were hosted by Professor Richard Barker and Dr Joshua Owen. A dedicated collaboration workshop focused on shared challenges across atmospheric corrosion, mechanical performance in complex environments, and infrastructure durability.

Photo 3: Collaboration Meeting at the University of Leeds. Dr Joshua Owen Giving A Presentation.

This was followed by technical tours of the University’s corrosion laboratories and the Henry Royce Institute facilities in Leeds, where cutting-edge capabilities in electrochemical methods, advanced microscopy, and materials testing were showcased.

Photo 4: Visit to the Corrosion Laboratory at the University of Leeds.

ICorr and CSCP held productive discussions on joint collaborative initiatives, potential bilateral joint research programme, and co-developed technical guidance for emerging technologies.

Final Engagement at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

The final stage of the visit took place at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in London https://www.npl.co.uk/ hosted by Professor Gareth Hinds, a globally respected figure in electrochemistry and corrosion measurement science.

A high-level meeting explored future cooperation on standards development, corrosion testing methodologies, and the potential for coordinated international research programmes that link the UK, China, and broader global partners.

Photo 5: CSCP President Professor Xiaogang Li (L3), ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao (Right) and China Delegation Hosted by Professor Gareth Hinds (R2) at NPL, London.

A detailed tour of NPL’s corrosion labs followed, highlighting UK leadership in precision materials characterisation, CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) corrosion testing, and corrosion-related metrology.

Photo 6: Visit to the Corrosion Laboratory at NPL.

The visit concluded with a symbolic and impactful moment – the ICorr President and Professor Li shaking hands at the end of the visit at NPL, reaffirming the commitment of both organisations to long-term partnership.

Photo 7: ICorr President and CSCP President – Shaking Hands at the End of the Visit.

A Transformative Step for Global Corrosion Collaboration

Professor Li’s visit represents one of the most significant international engagements in ICorr’s recent history. His exceptional global standing-reflected in his pioneering contributions to corrosion big data, materials genome engineering, atmospheric corrosion mechanisms, and the development of advanced corrosion-resistant steels-amplifies the strategic importance of this collaboration.

His leadership has had profound influence across China and the international corrosion community, and his engagements in the UK underscore the strong mutual interest in scientific cooperation, talent development, and harmonisation of methodologies across continents.

ICorr Statement on the Visit

The ICorr President commented:

“This visit marks a new affirmative chapter of international cooperation. Professor Li is one of the most influential corrosion scientists in the world, and the strengthening of ties between ICorr and CSCP will accelerate innovation, unify global communities, and help tackle some of the most complex materials challenges facing society. We look forward to expanding this partnership for the benefit of both nations and the global corrosion community.”

Looking Ahead

ICorr and CSCP have agreed to continue developing:

• Bilateral research programmes
• Collaborative standards development
• Exchange opportunities for students and early-career corrosion practitioners
• Joint international webinars, workshops and conferences
• New awards schemes
• Shared initiatives in corrosion data science, materials design, and advanced testing

This landmark visit has not only reinforced the scientific bonds between the UK and China but has also set the stage for a new era of global cooperation in corrosion science and engineering.

The Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) is pleased to announce that the Call for Papers for EUROCORR 2026 (https://eurocorr2026.org/)- to be held from 6-10 September 2026 in Dublin, Ireland-is now open. As one of the co-organisers of this prestigious event, we warmly invite our members to contribute and participate.

The deadline for the submission of lecture and poster abstracts is 16^th January 2026.

Abstracts can be submitted via the following link:

https://dechema.converia.de/frontend/index.php?sub=851

Please find ICorr’s EUROCORR 2026 Call for Papers flyer. We encourage you to share it with colleagues and within your professional networks who may be interested in contributing.

ICorr strongly encourages all members to take part in EUROCORR 2026 and help showcase the strength and innovation of our corrosion community.

Anthony Setiadi, Vice President, represented ICorr at the Big Bang event at the Houses of Parliament. This was a fantastic event and great to see so many young students enthusiastic about science and engineering. The event was held at the Terrace Pavilion and organised by Engineering UK and hosted by Toby Perkins MP.  There were a number of speeches including from Toby Perkins MP,  Dame Chi Onwurah, who is a Chartered Engineer, and Dr Hilary Leevers, CEO of Engineering UK. However, the most impactful speech was from one of the winners of the Big Bang Event 2025 (Grace Palmer) who provided the background to her engineering solution to support her disabled cousin.  She  set out the problem, proposed a solution including coming up with a bill of materials needed, drawings and manufacture as well as trials and feedback with her ‘client’. Her passionate speech regarding Engineering with Empathy, really resonated with a lot of people in the room that were here to support and help others by their work in engineering.

There were numerous projects described from these students, covering inventions and research on mental health, fire safety, simplified transfer aid for disabled, adjustable walking stick for the blind, waste management solutions, and AI cancer detection amongst others. Another one that caught my eye was the research on CO₂ emissions from the food we eat, which I think should be something  we as engineering practitioners should be using as one of our Safety / Sustainability moments.

Speaking to the young students was very inspiring for me including the way they articulated their work and how they set up their stall with posters and demonstration units. We should further support and encourage them to remain involved and be an ambassador in their community to highlight the rewarding work and career options available. Here at ICorr, we are involved with our Young ICorr initiatives and the YEP (Young Engineering Professionals) programme, but further engagement with colleges and schools will be another key focus, especially since a career in corrosion encompasses both traditional education and non-traditional routes.