Marine
Protecting marine assets with proven independent coating expertise.
Our seasoned, highly experienced and qualified team of marine coating experts are dedicated to delivering tailored coating services. This ensures coating quality, in-service performance, sustainable solutions, cost efficiency, enhancement of asset longevity as well as expert opinion to support failure investigations.
Maximise the return on your investments with our independent marine coatings consultancy and technical services.
Safinah has many years of experience working in the marine coatings sector. Our dedicated team of expert consultants and technical service teams deliver independent advice and specifications that adhere to current legislation, significantly reduce operation and maintenance costs, and extend asset lifetime.
For ship owners, shipyards, insurers, and other stakeholders in the marine sector who seek expert opinion to support coating failure claims, Safinah is regarded as the leading independent authority for marine coatings.
We deliver science-backed, impartial expertise proven by decades of global project experience and technical expertise. Safinah offers fully unbiased objective guidance, ensuring coating strategies that safeguard investments, performance and reputation.
Technical Services
- Drydocking (DD) / refit / newbuild / conversion coating project management
e.g. hull treatment, tank lining projects, ballast tank upgrades etc. - Newbuilding coating guarantee surveys
-
Pre-drydocking condition surveys for DD work scope planning
- Pre-purchase and General vessel Condition Surveys
- Crew training in good practice coating procedures
Consulting
- Coating specification and product selection recommendations
- Technology advice
- Warranty and contract advice
- Coating tender process support
- Failure investigation condition specifications
- Coating performance analysis
- Biofouling management plans
- Repair scope recommendations
- Coating process optimisation
- Bespoke training
Expert Witness / Legal Support
-
Paint failure investigations for key vessel areas such as:
- Cargo tanks
- Cargo holds
- Underwater hull
- Water ballast tanks
- Loss adjustment support
- Expert opinion and assessment
- Expert witness testimony at arbitrations
Speak with our experts to discuss your requirements, or if you have any questions about our services, please email at enquiries@safinah.com or contact us by clicking the button below.
Safinah Webinar Series: 4
Cargo Hold Coatings Exposed: What goes wrong. Why it happens. What 25+ years of investigations reveal.
Safinah Webinar Series On-Demand
Cargo Hold Coatings Exposed: What goes wrong. Why it happens. What 25+ years of investigations reveal.
Coating challenges in the Marine Sector
Although coatings typically account for only a small fraction of a vessel’s build or maintenance budget, their impact on asset integrity, operational efficiency, and total lifecycle cost is disproportionately large. As highlighted in Riviera Maritime Media’s article by Dr. Raouf Kattan, OBE, “Marine coatings: the 2% investment that determines a ship’s fate”, coatings can represent as little as 2% of the upfront cost of a vessel yet they ultimately dictate performance, lifetime, fuel efficiency, and asset protection. This paradox – low initial cost but high strategic importance – underlines why coatings must be treated as a critical investment rather than a routine consumable.
Unexpected and premature coating failure
Premature breakdown of coatings leads to costly repairs, downtime, and disputes.
Unclear or unsuitable specification
Coating specifications that don’t match performance expectations, operational and environmental conditions, or maintenance cycles increase long-term costs.
Misalignment between owner, yard and coating supplier
Disputes and rework due to conflicting priorities and lack of a common technical standards.
Inconsistent quality of application during drydock
Poor surface preparation or inconsistent application practices reduce coating life and asset protection.
Excessive hull fouling and fuel penalties
Ineffective fouling control strategies lead to increased drag, higher fuel consumption, and more emissions.
Rising insurance and regulatory pressures
Tougher class and port state controls, plus ESG expectations, require evidence of responsible coating strategies.
Lack of in-house coating expertise
Technical coating decisions often fall to non-specialists – risking poor choices and increased liability.
Unclear return on coating investment
Owners question the long-term value of high-performance, higher price systems due to lack of performance tracking.
Docking time constraints
Limited time in drydock often leads to shortcuts and missed opportunities for preventive work.
Warranties and claims
Coating warranty claims are complex, time-consuming, and require expert technical knowledge.
Discover how Safinah addresses these problems. Download the brochure.
Why trust Safinah?
Meet the Marine Team
Carl Barnes
Head of Marine Consulting
Martin Porsbjerg
Head of Technical Services
Michael Hindmarsh
Consultant – Marine
Alan Walker
Consultant – Marine
John Willsher
Business Development Manager
Book a FREE* Consultation
Safinah’s Marine Consulting Team offers a FREE initial consultation to help shipowners, operators, managers, legal and insurance claims professionals, and other marine stakeholders address complex coating and asset integrity challenges with confidence.
Whether you require independent advice on coating selection, drydocking strategies, coating failures, cargo tank and cargo hold coatings, antifouling performance, technical disputes, maintenance planning, or project assurance, our specialists provide practical, evidence-based guidance tailored to your operational objectives.
Drawing on decades of technical experience across the global marine industry, Safinah delivers independent expertise focused on reducing risk, improving coating performance, extending asset life, and supporting informed technical decision-making.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can book for a consultation?
This booking consultation is available for clients who would like to speak with Safinah experts about a particular coating project.
For all other enquiries not related to a project consultation, please email enquiries@safinah.com
What does FREE Consultation mean?
At Safinah, we are committed to helping clients make informed decisions from the very beginning of their project.
We offer a no-obligation consultation to discuss your requirements, project objectives, and operational challenges. Our experts provide independent, technically informed guidance on the most suitable options available – enabling you to evaluate the best path forward before deciding whether to engage Safinah’s services.
How long is the consultation?
Is it possible to book additional time beyond the allocated duration?
Our experts will provide you with the information and guidance needed to support your next steps. However, we understand that some projects can be more complex and may require additional consultation time. Where necessary, our team can assist in arranging extended or additional booking sessions, which can be discussed during your initial meeting.
I submitted my FREE Consultation booking request, what happens next?
Once your request has been successfully submitted, our team will coordinate the final arrangements with the consultant. You will then receive a meeting confirmation, which must be accepted to secure the booking.
Please note that any meeting confirmation not accepted at least 3 hours prior to the scheduled time may be cancelled.
I can't attend my booking, can I still cancel?
Yes. You may still cancel your booking after accepting the meeting invitation. We kindly ask that you notify us as early as possible so that our consultants can make the time available to other clients.
Is it possible to book for multiple attendees?
Why am I unable to book a same-day appointment?
What happens after the FREE Initial Consultation?
Alternatively, please contact us by clicking the button below or email enquiries@safinah.com
Hot topics: Marine news, updates and resources
Beyond the Pail
Safinah Founder, Dr. Raouf Kattan publishes the book “Beyond the Pail” – a personal history of Safinah. Almost 25 years ago, an idea was born
Hull substructures of floating offshore facilities
Safinah Group’s Keith Hutchinson joined a technical lecture exploring the latest trends in the design, construction, and operations of offshore floating facilities and systems.
Performance of different fouling prevention solutions
The Safinah technical team attend more than 200 dry dockings per year on behalf of ship owner clients. The in-dock survey data collected is used
Assessment of coating process to reduce emissions and improve performance
A national association wanted a major shipyard coating process assessment with the aim of reducing emissions in operation and improving facility/asset performance. Safinah was instructed
Can fouling be removed without damaging the underwater hull?
This is one of the questions most frequently asked by clients who engage Safinah to give an expert opinion on fouling type(s), fouling severity, cleaning
Are cargo tank coatings more important than the design of the vessel?
In the November issue of The Naval Architect, published by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), Safinah Group’s Andy Hopkinson discusses relevant regulations and
Legal & Insurance
Safinah delivers independent, technical coatings expertise that transforms complex marine, superyacht, energy and infrastructure coating-related disputes into clear, defensible evidence – helping legal and insurance teams protect client assets, reduce exposure, and resolve cases faster.
