Page 38: of Marine News Magazine (March 2022)

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take that coating down and put on a new one. dredging, offshore wind and the shift to hybrid and greener “So, we can preach that and show evidence of that. And vessels. “It’s driven toward new markets. You’re not going we’re going to expect to get a higher price for a high-quali- to see a lot of people looking to build what the maritime ty product and not just devalue it and just sell it in volume, industry would deem dinosaurs of the past. The market has because we don’t want to do that. We want to be able to changed. The servicing of oil assets in the Gulf has been, in keep our intimacy and take care of our customer.” my opinion, forever changed as people are looking to do

Treuting emphasized Carboline’s complete service offer- things with different fuel sources. . . That’s where things are ing, which he calls “unmatched”. “We’re involved in the going, and in order to get there, it’s going to require new- front end when our customers bring in a vessel up to give build programs because the older vessels are strictly diesel them a free survey, to really let them know what they’re driven vessels that are becoming outdated and too costly to coming in for, give our best recommendation for it. We’re operate. And they’re not falling under the green footprint there during the process of the vessel undergoing mainte- within the current sustainability initiatives.” nance or being built. And then we’re also there at the ? nal Similarly, Carboline is constantly working to improve end to make sure that it’s checked off and done correctly its offering, with current R&D efforts aimed at checking so that they’re going to see the most bene? t for the money off the boxes of its customers’ wish lists. The company is that are put toward that asset.” developing lower volatile organic compound (VOC) op-

Another pillar to Carboline’s customer-centric service tions, solutions that keep employees and contractors safe, offering is the experience and expertise of its personnel. and products that help to prolong the life of an asset. “Fast “We have people that have been within our marine team forward, we’ll come out with the product and go back to and in the coating business for 40 years. They’ve been customers who requested it to do product demos. If we see around a long time on all sides of the business. I have reps success, we’ll release it to the market,” Treuting said. “I can that have been on the construction side, and I have guys tell you until the end of time within Carboline, our R&D that have actually owned vessels. We have the ability to put efforts will continually move in a direction that leads us to ourselves in the owner’s position because they’ve been there the next best product.” and they’ve done it so long. It gives us a leg up when going Asked about keys to success over Carboline’s 75-year to sell to our customer base.” history, Treuting said, “One thing that’s been constant

The marine coating business, like nearly every other, has been the intimacy and the service that Carboline has has been profoundly impacted by COVID-19 and its always been able to provide for the customer. We have a unique set of challenges, from activity slowdowns to sup- very, very strong technical presence, and we can provide ply chain and worker shortages. While many challenges solutions. These the things that have continuously kept remain, Treuting said he’s seeing growing interest driven by Carboline moving in the right direction, and we use that increased activity in lique? ed natural gas (LNG) projects, foundation to build bigger and better.” 38 | MN March 2022