Coating Inspection & Verification for Defence, Marine and Heavy Industry

Independent third party inspection from AMPP/NACE certified coating inspectors. Based in Perth, protecting critical assets across Australia.

Our Related Corrosion Control Services

In-Service Coating & Corrosion Surveys

Failure Analysis & Remedial Specification

Contractor Evaluation & Mentoring

Our Related Corrosion Control Services

In-Service Coating & Corrosion Surveys

Failure Analysis & Remedial Specification

Contractor Evaluation & Mentoring

Defence and naval

White checkmark inside a black circle icon on a white background

Defence and naval

White checkmark in a black circle icon

Defence and naval

White checkmark inside a black circle icon
Black circle with a white checkmark icon inside

Marine and shipping

Mining, oil and gas

White checkmark in a black circle icon.

Government and infrastructure

White checkmark in a black circle icon
White checkmark in a black circle icon

Government and infrastructure

White checkmark in a black circle icon on a white background
White checkmark inside a black circle icon

Marine and shipping

White checkmark inside a black circle icon

Ports and maritime infrastructure

General heavy industry

Independent Coating Inspection and Verification You Can Stand Behind

Large blue ship in a shipyard hangar with red transport vehicles underneath

Providing high-accuracy coating inspection and verification for protective coating systems across Defence, marine and industrial assets. We confirm that coatings are applied correctly, perform as designed, and meet the compliance, warranty, classification and lifecycle requirements your project depends on.


Our AMPP/NACE certified coating inspectors work across ballast tanks, hull structures, voids, superstructures, pressure vessels, mechanical components and heavy-industrial assets. Every inspection is supported by calibrated instrumentation, digital reporting, photographic evidence and defect mapping, so your findings are traceable, defensible and audit-ready.


As an independent third party, we have no stake in the outcome of the work we inspect, so our findings support assurance, warranty protection and contract integrity when questions are asked later.

Defender Corrosion Control provides high-accuracy coating inspection and verification for protective coating systems across Defence, marine and industrial assets. We confirm that coatings are applied correctly, perform as designed, and meet the compliance, warranty, classification and lifecycle requirements your project depends on.

Our AMPP/NACE certified coating inspectors work across ballast tanks, hull structures, voids, superstructures, pressure vessels, mechanical components and heavy-industrial assets. Every inspection is supported by calibrated instrumentation, digital reporting, photographic evidence and defect mapping, so your findings are traceable, defensible and audit-ready.


As an independent third party, we have no stake in the outcome of the work we inspect, so our findings support assurance, warranty protection and contract integrity when questions are asked later.

Large blue ship in a shipyard hangar with red transport vehicles underneath

When a coating fails prematurely, the cost is rarely just the paint. Docking schedules slip, warranties get contested and maintenance budgets blow out. Independent third party inspection catches the problems early, while they are still cheap to fix.

Salt / profile

Salt / profile

Surface Preparation Verification

AS 1627

ISO 8501

1

Inspection of substrate condition, cleanliness, rust grade and surface profile against ISO 8501, AS 1627 and project-specific requirements, including verification of abrasive quality, salt contamination levels and surface profile height.

Environmental Condition Monitoring
Environmental Condition Monitoring
Environmental Condition Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity and dew point to ensure conditions stay within manufacturer and standards-based limitations through every coating stage, from surface preparation to final cure.

Surface Preparation Verification
Surface Preparation Verification
Surface Preparation Verification

Inspection of substrate condition, cleanliness, rust grade and surface profile against ISO 8501, AS 1627 and project-specific requirements, including verification of abrasive quality, salt contamination levels and surface profile height.

Coating Application Oversight
Coating Application Oversight
Coating Application Oversight

Inspection of each application phase, priming, intermediate, topcoat and specialised systems, to verify compliance with the manufacturer TDS, application parameters, required WFT/DFT ranges, recoat windows and cure and dew point requirements.

What Our Coating Inspection Covers

Surface Preparation Verification

Inspection of substrate condition, cleanliness, rust grade and surface profile against ISO 8501, AS 1627 and project-specific requirements, including verification of abrasive quality, salt contamination levels and surface profile height.

Environmental Condition Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity and dew point to ensure conditions stay within manufacturer and standards-based limitations through every coating stage, from surface preparation to final cure.

Coating Application Oversight

Inspection of each application phase, priming, intermediate, topcoat and specialised systems, to verify compliance with the manufacturer TDS, application parameters, required WFT/DFT ranges, recoat windows and cure and dew point requirements.

Defect Detection and Classification

Identification of application and in-service defects, rated using ISO 4628, PSPC, SSPC and ASTM standards so severity is assessed consistently and decisions are defensible.

Lifecycle Condition Assessment

Assessment of coating breakdown, corrosion spread, blistering, cracking, UV degradation and immersion performance to support docking schedules, maintenance planning, warranty claims and asset life extension.

AMPP/NACE Certified Coating Inspection

Every project is led by a qualified coating inspector holding AMPP/NACE certification, the internationally recognised benchmark for coating inspection competence. Our inspectors bring hands-on Defence, shipyard and industrial experience, which means a NACE coating inspector on your project is reading the job through the eyes of someone who has done the work, not just audited it. That combination of certification and trade background is what turns inspection findings into practical decisions your contractors can act on.

AMPP logo with red geometric emblem and black lettering on a white background
NACE International logo in black with blue, green, and yellow circular design

Certified to the AMPP Coating Inspection Program, formerly NACE CIP

Why Asset Owners Choose Defender Corrosion Control

Three people in a circle with speech bubbles, one seated at a laptop, one standing and one gesturing

Independent and Unbiased

Independent, with no commercial relationship to any coating manufacturer or applicator

Black outlined shield icon on a white background

Defence-Standard Quality

Led by an AMPP Senior Certified Coating Inspector (CIP Level 3) with 20+ years across Defence, marine and heavy industry

Magnifying glass over stacked documents, black outline icon

Audit-Ready Reporting

Standards-aligned, audit-ready reporting you can act on

Location pin icon with a person silhouette and check mark

Trade-Grounded Judgement

Our advice comes from the field, not the textbook, so recommendations are practical to deliver on site.

Coating Inspection FAQs

  • What is coating inspection?

    Coating inspection is the independent verification of a protective coating system at each stage of its life, from surface preparation and application through to in-service performance. It confirms the work complies with the specification, the manufacturer's requirements and the relevant standards, and it produces documented evidence that supports warranties, classification and maintenance planning.

  • What does a NACE inspector do?

    A NACE inspector (now certified under AMPP) is trained and certified to verify surface preparation, environmental conditions, coating application and defect classification against recognised standards. On site, a NACE coating inspector witnesses hold points, measures and records key parameters like profile, salts and DFT, and documents findings so any non-conformance is caught and corrected early.

  • Why use third party inspection instead of relying on the contractor?

    A contractor inspecting their own work has an inherent conflict of interest. Third party inspection gives you independent, defensible evidence of quality. If a coating fails inside its warranty period, or a classification society or Defence customer asks questions, independent inspection records are what protect your position.

  • What standards do you inspect to?

    We inspect against internationally recognised standards including ISO 8501 and AS 1627 for surface preparation, ISO 4628, PSPC, SSPC and ASTM for defect classification, and manufacturer TDS requirements for application. Our processes also align with ADF, AMPP/NACE, IMO PSPC and classification society requirements.

  • Do you only provide coating inspection in Perth?

    We are based in Perth, Western Australia, and service clients Australia-wide. Our inspectors work across WA programs including the Pilbara and North West Shelf, Defence and shipyard projects, and marine and industrial assets around the country.

  • When should coating inspection start on a project?

    Before the first blast. The majority of premature coating failures trace back to surface preparation or environmental conditions, so the highest-value inspection happens early. Engaging an inspector from the start of surface preparation costs far less than diagnosing and remediating a failure after handover.

Contractor Evaluation and Mentoring
Contractor Evaluation and Mentoring
Contractor Evaluation and Mentoring

Independent contractor evaluation and hands-on mentoring that lifts quality, compliance and consistency on site, reducing rework, defects and project delays across every stage of the project lifecycle. Link: Learn more about contractor evaluation

Learn More
Marine Painting and Coating Services
Marine Painting and Coating Services
Marine Painting and Coating Services

High-quality marine painting and protective coating application for Defence, commercial and offshore vessels, from surface preparation and environmental control through to application oversight and final inspection.

Learn More
Abstract gray shield-like shape with two-tone halves on a white background

Get an Independent Assessment

We provide third-party verification that supports assurance, compliance and contract integrity, with no vested interest in the outcome.

Request a Consultation

Failure Analysis & Remedial Specification

Learn More
Rusty corroded metal pipe and wall with flaking brown-orange rust and peeling paint
Collapsed bridge over churning water with a damaged span and debris near the shoreline

Related Corrosion Control Services

In-Service Coating and Corrosion Surveys

Failure Analysis & Remedial Specification

Contractor Evaluation & Mentoring

This is required
Enter an email Use an address with (@) and (.)
This is required
Enter your phone number Enter a valid number like +1555-123-4567
This is required

 Book Coating Inspection Now

Tell us about your asset, your specification and your timeline, and we will give you a straight answer on the inspection scope you actually need. Independent findings, audit-ready reporting, no surprises later.