At Nippon Paint Marine, strong on-site leadership is essential to ensuring coating quality and performance at shipyards around the world. In this blog, we introduce Yousub Jeong, Senior Manager at Nippon Paint Marine Korea.
Yousub joined Nippon Paint Marine in 2008 with no prior industry experience. Since then, he has built his entire career through hands-on work at shipyards, developing strong technical expertise and a deep sense of responsibility for every vessel under his supervision. This extensive on-site experience continues to shape his approach to coating quality, inspections and daily operations.
Yousub Jeong, Senior Manager, Nippon Paint Marine Korea
Today, I am working as the Site Manager of NPMK at HD Hyundai Samho (HD HSHI), where I am responsible for the WAN HAI newbuilding project. This project includes four 8,700 TEU container vessels newbuilds scheduled from steel cutting in August 2025 to final delivery in September 2026, as well as six 16,000 TEU container vessels scheduled to start in April 2026 with final delivery in May 2028. This assignment is particularly meaningful to me, as it marks my first official role as a site manager.
Drawing on my long on-site experience, I am fully committed to delivering high quality coatings and services in line with Nippon Paint Marine’s brand and reputation in the shipyard.
Inspection for perfection
One of the most memorable moments in my career was seeing a vessel I supported from the very first block coating finally delivered. Watching the ship leave the dock with a perfect coating finish gave me a deep sense of pride and reinforced the importance of every inspection, no matter how small, in contributing to the final result.
Throughout my career, one piece of advice has guided my work: “Treat every project as if your name is written on it.” This mindset has taught me to take full ownership of my responsibilities. In on-site technical service, accountability is essential to building trust with shipyards, superintendents and clients, and I always strive to ensure that every inspection reflects my professionalism.
Recently, I have been closely involved in the WAN HAI newbuilding project, which marks the beginning of a long-term partnership. From the first block coating ceremony, I have supported the process to help ensure that surface preparation and DFT control are maintained to a high standard.
As the project is still in its early stage, there have been valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration. I have found it rewarding to contribute to ongoing product improvement by sharing on-site feedback with the technical department and seeing steady progress in coating quality. This close cooperation gives me confidence that the vessels will be delivered in excellent condition.
An eco-friendly future
Looking ahead, I see a clear shift in the marine coatings industry toward eco-friendly and low-VOC solutions. As environmental regulations become increasingly strict, shipowners and shipyards are seeking products that reduce environmental impact while maintaining durability and performance. I believe sustainability will play a defining role in the future of marine coatings.
I am excited to be part of this transition. With growing environmental awareness across the industry and stricter global regulations, there is a strong movement toward developing coatings that are both high-performing and environmentally responsible. I am proud to contribute to this positive change and believe that sustainable innovation will define the next era of the industry.
At the shipyard, our success depends on teamwork, trust and a shared commitment to quality. As a site manager, I rely on my colleagues and partners who work tirelessly to deliver reliable on-site services and support the values of Nippon Paint Marine.
