US Navy ships: Blue below the waterline?

Bill Nichols · 02-20-09, 09:57 AM

I saw these pics and noticed the ship is blue below the waterline. How long has this been the case?

Damage to USS Port Royal following Feb. 5 grounding about a half-mile south of Honolulu:

SteamWake · 02-20-09, 10:47 AM

Since they started using pigmented zinc based antifouling paint?

No really thats a good question as these pigmanted paints are quite expensive as opposed to the non pigmented (orangish red) types.

Is there a reason?

XabbaRus · 02-20-09, 11:42 AM

Because the CNO's granddaughter thinks its purtty....

Digital_Trucker · 02-20-09, 11:47 AM

Torpedo camouflage? Perhaps some politicians brother-in-law owns the paint manufacturer? So the terrorist divers can't find the boat to plant the explosives? So Greenpeace can complain about fish running into the boat because they couldn't see it? So drug smuggling submarines will run into it and be captured?

AVGWarhawk · 02-20-09, 12:19 PM

That color was on sale that day...

Etienne · 02-20-09, 12:46 PM

Colored anti-fouling paint has been available for quite some time, now. I worked on at least one (Commercial) ship that had a blue bottom, and I *think* a few that had a black bottom. Most commercial ships are red all over nowaday, so that's not a good indicator...

If companies are painting the bellies in company color, then it can't be THAT much more expensive than the traditional colors, I suppose.

Also, there were new international environmental regulations that came out relatively recently, regarding anti-fouling coating. I don't recall any of it (Anti-fouling paint is beyond my area of expertise), and I don't think it applies to the military, but it could be a factor in their decision.

Guessing out of my nether region : It could be a polymer-based antiadhesive coating, or something of the kind.

02-20-09, 09:57 AM	#1
Bill Nichols Master of Defense Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,502 Downloads: 125 Uploads: 0	US Navy ships: Blue below the waterline? I saw these pics and noticed the ship is blue below the waterline. How long has this been the case? Damage to USS Port Royal following Feb. 5 grounding about a half-mile south of Honolulu: __________________ My Dangerous Waters website:

02-20-09, 11:42 AM	#3
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Because the CNO's granddaughter thinks its purtty.... __________________

02-20-09, 11:47 AM	#4
Digital_Trucker Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Peach State Posts: 4,171 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 10	Torpedo camouflage? Perhaps some politicians brother-in-law owns the paint manufacturer? So the terrorist divers can't find the boat to plant the explosives? So Greenpeace can complain about fish running into the boat because they couldn't see it? So drug smuggling submarines will run into it and be captured? __________________ RSM-GIEP-Killflags-LV Tribute-Playable Elco __Peace be with you, Dave.

02-20-09, 12:19 PM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,255 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	That color was on sale that day... __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

02-20-09, 10:47 AM	#2
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Since they started using pigmented zinc based antifouling paint? No really thats a good question as these pigmanted paints are quite expensive as opposed to the non pigmented (orangish red) types. Is there a reason?

02-20-09, 12:46 PM	#6
Etienne Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Colored anti-fouling paint has been available for quite some time, now. I worked on at least one (Commercial) ship that had a blue bottom, and I think a few that had a black bottom. Most commercial ships are red all over nowaday, so that's not a good indicator... If companies are painting the bellies in company color, then it can't be THAT much more expensive than the traditional colors, I suppose. Also, there were new international environmental regulations that came out relatively recently, regarding anti-fouling coating. I don't recall any of it (Anti-fouling paint is beyond my area of expertise), and I don't think it applies to the military, but it could be a factor in their decision. Guessing out of my nether region : It could be a polymer-based antiadhesive coating, or something of the kind.