Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Receives Environment Minister’s Award for Global Warming Prevention Activity for Its Low-Friction Bottom Paint TechnologyBottom paint modelled after the body structure of tuna helping to reduce CO2emissions from shipping Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan, President Seiichiro Shirahata; hereinafter “NPMC), a group company of Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President: Tetsushi Tado), received the 2019 EnvironmentMinister’s Award for Global Warming Prevention Activity in the Countermeasure Technology Advanced Introduction Category for its work on the theme of “Reduction of fuel consumption and CO2emissions by dissemination of low-friction bottom paint. In its award-winning effort, NPMC developed a water trapping technology that enables a reduction in water flow resistance, a world first. The technology, developed by focusing attention on the body structure of tuna, which swim very fast, and obtaining a hint from the tuna’s outer body, has achieved significant reductions in fuel consumption in ship operations. NPMC’s efforts to help curb global warming by disseminating products using this technology was highly praised, leading to this award.On receiving the award, NPMCPresident Seiichiro Shirahatasaid,”I believe that it is meaningful that this award recognizes the fact that LF-Sea series products have become widespread globally since their release in 2007 as environmentally responsive products. We aim to become a company that delivers state-of-the-art environment-friendly products across the world, and to continue being a company that contributes to the global environment through bottom paints and offers new value.”Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment Tetsuya Yagi(Left) and NPMC President Seiichiro Shirahata
In 2007, NPMC developed “LF-Sea,” a world-first low-friction bottom paint, and developed its upper model ultra-low fuel consumption bottom paint “A-LF-Sea” in 2013. Compared to traditional products, “LF-Sea” and “A-LF-Sea” can reduce fuel consumption by approximately 4% and 10%, respectively, thereby achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions. As of June 2019, these low-friction bottom paints have been adopted by more than 2,900 ships.
