Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Partners with the DoD

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine partners with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) by supplying high-performance, MIL-Spec-approved coatings for a variety of platforms such as aircraft carriers, submarines, armored vehicles, and aircraft. 

Through decades of collaboration with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), public and private naval shipyards, and contractors, Sherwin-Williams provides corrosion‑resistant technologies, technical service support, and reliable global distribution that extends vessel service life and lowers total ownership costs.

Sherwin-Williams has over two decades of hands-on collaboration with the U.S. Navy and DoD. This partnership emphasizes innovation in corrosion control and sustainability.

Their work includes:

• Advancing marine coatings technologies
• Meeting evolving performance and regulatory requirements
• Supporting the modernization of naval operations and maintenance practices

Key Technical Capabilities Offered by Sherwin-Williams

• Rapid return-to-service coatings minimizing drydock maintenance schedules
• Coatings with proven service life in excess of 20 years
• Comprehensive coatings portfolio with the ability to protect from keel to mast
• A variety of underwater hull antifoulant technologies to prevent marine growth such as barnacles, tube worms and grass
• Vessel surveys to aid in planning for dry dock periods
• On-site dedicated company technical service to ensure successful coating application and to train contractors on new technology
• Focused marine sales experts and support team
• Direct-to-market sales and service without distributorship
• National and global fleet contracts

These capabilities assist the Navy in maintaining fleet readiness and lowering total ownership costs.

Sherwin-Williams provides high-performance protective coatings for all areas of U.S. Navy vessels, for new construction and maintenance. 

Partnering with the Naval Research Lab and the Naval Surface Warfare Centers has led to cost-saving innovations such as single-coat, rapid-cure ballast and fuel tank coatings and copper-free (green technology) antifoulants.

Logistically, Sherwin-Williams has manufacturing, distribution, and local warehousing to support the shipyards via just-in-time delivery. Local facilities deliver coatings in 24-48 hours to the naval shipyards, often directly to the vessel.

Starting in the late 1990s, Sherwin-Williams worked with the U.S. Navy to qualify one of the first MIL-Spec ultra-high-solids tank linings. This environmentally friendly, low-solvent-content coating has superior edge retention, minimizing corrosion in complex geometry spaces such as ballast tanks. 

Leveraging its innovation capabilities and deep subject matter and industry expertise, Sherwin-Williams continues to develop next generation tank linings, polysiloxane freeboard and topside coatings, and mold- and mildew-resistant coatings to keep interior habitability spaces clean and safe for the ships’ crews.

Sherwin-Williams also provides CARC (Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings) to protect military vehicles and equipment.

As a primary supplier of MIL‑Spec marine coatings to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, Sherwin-Williams provides coatings systems designed to withstand extreme environments and meet stringent naval requirements. Sherwin-Williams coatings are used across the entire U.S. Navy fleet.

“From developing and delivering high-performance coatings systems to managing an integrated coatings supply chain that ensures on-time, local availability, we are committed to helping the U.S. Navy protect the ships that help defend our nation,” said Joe Laehu, Vice President of Marketing with Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. “We have enjoyed a long-term relationship that has stood the test of time from protecting World War II’s naval vessels to today’s ultramodern supercarriers.”

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to U.S. Navy fleet readiness, technical innovation, and the sailors who rely on these ships to carry out their missions around the world.