Hull of China’s first large cruise ship gets AkzoNobel coating

The Adora Magic City, the first large Chinese-built cruise ship, has left on its maiden voyage, with AkzoNobel’s International paint covering its 323.6m (1,062ft) hull. The Dutch paints and coating multinational says it is also contributing to the hull of a sister ship, now under construction.

“We’re proud our trusted coatings technology and expertise played an important role [in the building of the landmark vessel],” says Simon Parker, director of AkzoNobel’s Marine, Protective and Yacht Coatings business.

“We’re constantly innovating to keep pace with evolving requirements,” he added, “with a clear focus on supporting customers in yard efficiency, boosting lifetime performance and reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions in operation.”

Parker says AkzoNobel’s ability to make a difference in large projects benefits downstream clients of its Marine Coatings business. The company is also contributing to the hull of Adora Magic City’s sister ship.

AkzoNobel International Marine Coatings applied its Intersmooth anti-fouling hull technology to the Adora Magic City. It delivers a consistent polishing rate for vessels based on their predicted routes to achieve cost savings.

The Adora Magic City was built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. Chinese officials saw her launch as key to reducing European builders’ dominance in the cruise sector. China’s state news agency, Xinhua, labeled the vessel (16 decks, 5,246 passengers, 20 restaurants and bars, a 1,000-seat theatre) a “crown jewel” of China’s industrial strength.