Hempel completes the first round of successful applications with Hempaguard NB on new Maersk vessels
The applications mark a significant milestone that brings advanced coating technology into the newbuilding process to support performance and lower environmental impact from day one.
Key messages
- Hempaguard NB has been successfully applied on Maersk’s newbuilding vessel, Tangier Mærsk.
- The project proves that advanced silicone coatings can be applied during newbuild construction, and integrated into workflows through strong collaboration between Hempel, vessel owner and shipyard - without affecting launch schedules.
- Shipowners achieve optimised performance and energy efficiency from day one, while shipyards gain a new competitive advantage.
- The first successfully completed application was on the vessel Tangier Mærsk, followed by two other vessels in the same newbuilding series coated in January 2026.
Applied at Yangzijiang Shipyard (YZJ) in China in October 2025, this successful result was achieved through close collaboration between YZJ, Maersk and Hempel. Even though it was the first application of Hempaguard NB, the work was carried out efficiently and without impacting the vessel’s launch schedule, underscoring the coating’s suitability for streamlined newbuilding operations.
“This milestone shows how effectively Hempaguard NB can be applied during vessel construction when shipyards, owners and Hempel’s coating and application specialists work closely together,” says Alexander Enström, Head of New Build at Hempel. “It provides a practical pathway for introducing silicone coatings in newbuilding without schedule impact.”
The successful application is viewed as a significant achievement for Hempel, Maersk and YZJ. Building on the strong results achieved during the project, additional vessels under the same contract are scheduled to be coated with Hempaguard NB during 2026.
Jie HONG, Director of QA&QC Department at Yangzijiang Shipyard, adds that: “Our collaboration with Hempel and Maersk on this project has clearly demonstrated that advanced silicone coatings can be applied during the newbuilding process without causing disruption or delays. This not only reinforces our confidence in adopting innovative technologies, but also provides our yard with a valuable competitive edge as we continue to pursue higher efficiency and performance in future projects.”
The results on Tangier Mærsk reinforce Hempel’s dedication to developing new coating solutions in close collaboration with partners across the maritime industry, who are reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
To learn more about Hempaguard NB, please visit: www.hempel.com/industries/marine/full-picture-hull-management/newbuild
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Alexandra Thiis Billing, PR Manager
Tel: +45 4089 4240
Email: communications@hempel.com
About Hempel
As a world-leading supplier of trusted coating solutions, Hempel is a global company with strong values, working with customers in the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region.
Across the globe, Hempel’s paints and coatings can be found in almost every country of the world. They protect and beautify buildings, infrastructure and other assets, and play an essential role in our customers’ businesses. They help minimise maintenance costs, improve aesthetics and increase energy efficiency.
At Hempel, our purpose is to shape a brighter future with sustainable coating solutions. We firmly believe that we will succeed as a business only if we place sustainability at our heart. Not only is it the right thing to do, it will strengthen our competitive position, make ourselves more resilient and reduce our risk.
Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915. It is majority owned by the Hempel Foundation, which ensures a solid economic base for the Hempel Group and supports cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific purposes around the world.
