Many thanks John, a lot of red ships seem to suffer the same fate, many of the Wallenius/Wilhelmsen car boats appear to have a coat of Emulsion paint.

Regards
Ken

Sorry forgot about the rules of today, even in Bluff we never see a ship being painted on the seaward side, usually small touch ups from the wharf.

What amazed me on the Columbus Australia when I did a round trip in 1976,was the decks were sandblasted first,Columbus Line having the first containerships introduced to NZ,maintained these high standards for many years probably to inhance their brand.

Chris,,,, you are right and wrong, HSDG had and has their ships usually in good shape. But if see some of the ships of some renowned shipping companies, specail when they do not come to europe,, it is terrible,, run down to the heels with minimum crews.
in the 70,s-80,s even container ships had time in ports. most ports outside major ports did not have gantry cranes
but operated with mobile cranes or the vessels had own gear. with own gear one could make 10-12 moves an hr if ashore the logistic was good. But far more important is the restrictions on doing paint jobs in ports. European/US ports are usually very good, one can paint the hulls,,but those ports are the ones where companies make supplies and the turn around times are rather short,, seldom over 24 hrs.
In most Carbbean/cantral/south american ports as well as african and asian ports painting hulls is strictly forbidden,, most of the time because of "bogus security reasons" in Buenos Aires for example it is NEVER allowed for security reasons to make even life boat and rescue drills.
This is in a lot of ports, Ships have to make monthly/3-monthly/6monthly drills, but then they are not permitted to make the very same in ports, and if allowed usually no time,, look at the feeder ships in Hamburg/Rotterdam,, there is just no time anymore for maintentance,,, MONEY/TIME rules the whole show

These 'modern' Panamax type container carriers are a very compromised design having to carry about 13,000 tonnes of water ballast down below to maintain stability within the confines of the current Panamax beam requirements. No more container ships like this will be built, current newbuilding orders will take advantage of the proposed widening of the locks and be of a far more efficient design.
Best Regards
John J.

She is a disgrace compared to original trio of Hamburg Sud containerships in 70's, which were kept like yachts.
Even with very short port visits.

Still there was lead in the paint then.

Lovely long shot there Ken. Glad to see light conditions were better on the Thames this week. And note that red paint technology still has a long way to go, she has faded just like a Ford Sierra of yore and looks much older than her age!
Best Regards
John J.