Painting Supervisor

PAINTING SUPERINTENDENT – SHIP REPAIR

1. Position Details

Item

Details

Position

Painting Superintendent – Ship Repair

Department

Operations / Painting

Reports To

Project Manager / Operations Manager

Supervises

Painting Supervisors, Foremen, Blasters, Painters and Helpers

Experience

Minimum 8–12 years relevant marine painting experience

Education

Diploma / Technical qualification in Painting, Coating Technology, Marine Engineering or relevant field

Location

Shipyard / Vessel Repair Facilities

1. Job Purpose

The Painting Superintendent is responsible for the overall planning, supervision and execution of marine blasting, surface preparation and painting/coating activities for ship repair projects.

The position shall ensure that all coating works are completed safely, efficiently, within the approved schedule and in accordance with the paint manufacturer's requirements, approved coating specifications, Class requirements and client requirements .

The Painting Superintendent shall maintain effective control of manpower, blasting equipment, compressors, scaffolding/access, paint materials, consumables, environmental conditions, productivity and quality .

1. Key Responsibilities

A. Pre-Arrival & Painting Planning

• Review vessel repair specifications, coating specifications, paint schedules and approved work scope.
• Review paint manufacturer's recommendations and technical requirements.
• Prepare painting execution plans and work priorities.
• Identify requirements for:
• Grit blasting/ Garnet Blasting
• Water blasting where applicable
• Mechanical surface preparation
• Stripe coating
• Primer application
• Intermediate coats
• Final coats
• Antifouling systems
• Tank coatings
• Deck coatings
• Machinery/structural coatings wherever applicable
• Determine manpower, blasting equipment, compressors, spray pumps, hoses, scaffolding and access requirements.
• Coordinate with Project Manager/Project Engineer to establish painting sequence based on vessel sailing schedule.
• Plan painting activities to minimize interference with other vessel repair activities.

B. Vessel Inspection & Surface Assessment

• Participate in vessel arrival and condition surveys.
• Inspect coating condition and identify corrosion, coating breakdown, rust scale, damaged areas and existing coating failures.
• Verify actual areas requiring blasting and painting against the approved scope.
• Take measurements of damaged areas and prepare accurate quantities.
• Identify additional painting requirements and report them to the Project Engineer/Project Manager.
• Verify substrate condition before commencement of coating work.

C. Surface Preparation

Supervise and control:

• Grit blasting.
• Abrasive blasting.
• Water blasting where specified.
• Mechanical preparation.
• Chipping and grinding.
• Rust removal.
• Surface cleaning.
• Dust removal.
• Salt contamination control where applicable.
• Surface profile measurement.

Ensure the required surface preparation standard is achieved before coating application.

Examples include applicable standards such as Sa 2, Sa 2½, Sa 3, St 2 and St 3 , as specified by the approved coating system.

D. Painting & Coating Application

Supervise application of:

• Shop primers.
• Zinc-rich primers.
• Epoxy primers.
• High-build epoxy coatings.
• Intermediate coats.
• Finish coats.
• Antifouling coatings.
• Tank coatings.
• Deck coatings.
• Non-skid coatings.
• Specialized marine coatings.

Ensure:

• Correct paint system is used.
• Correct mixing ratio is maintained.
• Required thinner is used.
• Pot life is controlled.
• Recoat intervals are maintained.
• Correct application method is followed.
• Required wet film thickness (WFT) and dry film thickness (DFT) are achieved.
• Stripe coats are completed where required.
• Coating defects are identified and rectified.

1. Manpower Management

• Plan and allocate blasters, painters, spray painters and helpers according to project requirements.
• Monitor daily manpower deployment and productivity.
• Ensure adequate skilled manpower is available for critical painting activities.
• Verify painter/blaster competency where required.
• Monitor working hours and overtime.
• Identify manpower shortages and inform the Project Manager in advance.
• Ensure efficient utilization of painting personnel.
• Monitor individual/team productivity against planned targets.

1. Blasting Equipment & Compressor Management

Ensure availability and proper utilization of:

• Air compressors.
• Blast pots.
• Blast hoses.
• Nozzles.
• Spray pumps.
• Airless spray machines.
• Conventional spray equipment.
• Pressure washers.
• Grinding machines.
• Ventilation fans.
• Dehumidifiers where required.
• Lighting equipment.
• Vacuum cleaners.
• Air dryers/moisture separators.
• Ensure equipment is inspected and maintained.
• Coordinate equipment requirements with Maintenance/Equipment teams.
• Immediately report equipment breakdowns affecting critical activities.
• Maintain suitable backup arrangements for critical equipment.

1. Paint & Consumable Control

• Prepare material requisitions based on approved coating specifications and quantities.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Stores for timely availability of paint and consumables.
• Verify paint type, colour, batch number and quantity before use.
• Ensure paint materials are stored according to manufacturer's recommendations.
• Monitor shelf life and batch control.
• Maintain proper mixing and issue records.
• Control paint consumption and minimize wastage.
• Ensure thinners and consumables are compatible with the approved coating system.
• Return unused materials to Stores after project completion.

1. Environmental & Weather Condition Control

The Painting Superintendent shall closely monitor environmental conditions before and during coating application, including:

• Ambient temperature.
• Steel/substrate temperature.
• Relative humidity.
• Dew point.
• Difference between steel temperature and dew point.
• Ventilation.
• Moisture and condensation.
• Weather conditions.

Painting shall not proceed when environmental conditions are outside the paint manufacturer's approved limits or project specification .

Ensure proper ventilation and environmental control for enclosed spaces and tanks.

1. Quality Control

• Ensure painting activities comply with approved coating specifications and manufacturer's technical data sheets.
• Coordinate with QC and Client/Owner representatives for inspections.
• Arrange inspection at appropriate stages:
• Surface preparation
• Surface profile
• Cleanliness
• Environmental conditions
• Primer application
• Stripe coat
• Intermediate coat
• Final coat
• DFT measurement
• Visual inspection
• Ensure DFT readings are properly recorded.
• Coordinate holiday detection/spark testing for applicable tank coatings.
• Ensure coating defects are rectified before final acceptance.
• Coordinate Class/third-party inspections where applicable.
• Maintain proper coating inspection records.

1. HSEQ Responsibilities

• Ensure strict compliance with shipyard HSEQ procedures.
• Ensure appropriate PPE is used by all painting personnel.
• Ensure blasting helmets and supplied-air systems are properly maintained.
• Ensure respiratory protection requirements are followed.
• Control exposure to paint fumes and hazardous substances.
• Ensure proper ventilation in enclosed spaces.
• Ensure safe handling and storage of paints, solvents and chemicals.
• Ensure appropriate fire prevention measures.
• Ensure blasting hoses, air lines and electrical equipment are safely maintained.
• Control overspray and environmental contamination.
• Ensure proper disposal of spent abrasive and paint waste.
• Stop unsafe work and immediately report HSEQ concerns.

1. Scaffolding & Access Coordination

• Coordinate with Rigging & Scaffolding teams for required access arrangements.
• Ensure sufficient scaffolding is available before blasting and painting activities commence.
• Verify access is safe and suitable for the required work.
• Plan scaffolding requirements in advance to avoid delays.
• Coordinate scaffold modification/removal according to painting sequence.
• Ensure painting teams do not proceed where safe access is unavailable.

1. Project Schedule & Productivity

• Prepare daily painting work plans.
• Establish production targets for blasting and painting teams.
• Monitor actual versus planned progress.
• Track blasting and painting areas completed per shift.
• Monitor man-hours and productivity.
• Identify bottlenecks affecting painting progress.
• Coordinate recovery plans with the Project Manager.
• Prioritize critical areas based on vessel sailing requirements.
• Ensure painting works do not become a critical-path delay to vessel completion.

1. Coordination with Other Departments

Coordinate closely with:

• Project Manager
• Project Engineer
• Fabrication Department
• Piping Department
• Mechanical Department
• Electrical Department
• Rigging & Scaffolding
• HSEQ
• QC
• Procurement
• Stores
• Maintenance
• Vessel/Client Representatives
• Paint Manufacturer/Technical Representative
• Class Surveyors
• Subcontractors

Ensure painting is properly sequenced with hot work, steel renewal, piping, mechanical and other activities.

1. Additional Work / Variation Control

• Identify additional painting and coating requirements during vessel inspection.
• Measure and quantify additional areas accurately.
• Provide manpower, material and equipment requirements.
• Inform the Project Engineer/Project Manager before starting additional work.
• Support preparation of technical/commercial quotations.
• Ensure client approval is obtained before chargeable additional works are undertaken, where applicable.
• Maintain records of approved additional painting works.

1. Daily Reporting

The Painting Superintendent shall provide:

• Daily manpower report.
• Blasting progress report.
• Painting progress report.
• Planned vs. actual progress.
• Man-hour utilization.
• Paint/material consumption report.
• Equipment status.
• Environmental condition records.
• DFT/inspection status.
• QC/Class observations.
• Outstanding work/punch-list.
• Additional work status.
• Delays and constraints.
• Recovery/action plan.

1. Project Completion

• Ensure all painting works are completed according to approved specifications.
• Coordinate final inspection with QC and Client.
• Complete rectification of coating defects and punch-list items.
• Ensure final DFT and inspection records are completed.
• Ensure tanks and other enclosed spaces are properly cleaned and accepted.
• Ensure excess paint, abrasives and waste are removed.
• Return unused paint/materials and equipment.
• Submit final painting records to QC/Project Engineer.
• Support preparation of WDC/Service Reports and project close-out documentation.

1. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Painting Superintendent will be evaluated based on:

• On-time completion of blasting and painting activities
• Blasting productivity – m²/man-hour
• Painting productivity – m²/man-hour
• Paint consumption and material wastage
• Coating quality and DFT compliance
• Reduction of coating defects and rework
• Manpower utilization
• Equipment utilization
• Compliance with environmental requirements
• HSEQ performance
• QC/Class acceptance
• Client satisfaction
• Achievement of vessel turnaround schedule

1. Authority & Responsibility

The Painting Superintendent is responsible for:

• Direct supervision of painting and blasting workforce.
• Allocation of manpower within the painting team.
• Establishing daily work priorities in coordination with the Project Engineer/Project Manager.
• Recommending manpower, material and equipment requirements.
• Stopping painting work when environmental conditions are unsuitable.
• Stopping unsafe or technically incorrect work.
• Rejecting inadequate surface preparation or coating application and arranging rectification.
• Escalating technical, material, manpower and schedule issues immediately.

Commercial commitments, scope changes and major resource decisions shall be referred to the Project Manager / Operations Manager .

1. Required Competencies

• Strong marine/shipyard painting experience.
• Excellent knowledge of blasting and surface preparation.
• Good knowledge of marine coating systems.
• Knowledge of paint manufacturer's application requirements.
• Understanding of DFT, WFT, surface profile and environmental monitoring.
• Knowledge of marine coating inspection requirements.
• Knowledge of Class and client coating requirements.
• Strong manpower and productivity management.
• Good understanding of HSEQ requirements for blasting and painting.
• Ability to read coating specifications and technical data sheets.
• Strong planning, coordination and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under tight vessel turnaround schedules.
• Good leadership and communication skills.

1. Minimum Experience

08–12 years of relevant marine painting/shipyard experience , preferably including:

• Ship repair and dry-docking.
• Hull blasting and painting.
• Tank coating.
• Antifouling application.
• Steel surface preparation.
• Airless spray painting.
• Abrasive blasting.
• Marine coating inspection.
• DFT measurement and control.
• Paint material and consumable management.
• Supervision of blasters and painters.
• Coordination with QC/Class and paint manufacturers.

Interested Candidates send your CV to:

leni@bluegulfcat.ae

Work Location: In person