U.S. Navy to Commission USS Cleveland at Cleveland’s North Coast Yard – a First for Ohio, a First for the Navy
Sherwin-Williams and Other Northeast Ohio Manufacturers Will be Celebrated for Their Role in Equipping the New Combat Ship
CLEVELAND (May 7, 2026) – When the U.S. Navy commissions its newest littoral combat ship, the USS Cleveland (LCS 31), May 16 at the North Coast Yard, Cleveland, it will be a proud historical moment for the United States Navy, Cleveland and multiple Northeast Ohio manufacturers.
It will be the first time a U.S. Navy combat ship has been commissioned in Ohio. Cleveland will now join the ranks of other major cities, such as Boston, Norfolk and San Diego, that have taken part in one of the U.S. Navy’s most celebrated traditions.
The commissioning ceremony will take place toward the end of Commissioning Week, May 9-18. The week is themed “Forging a Legacy” and will bring national attention to Cleveland’s waterfront as the community welcomes the sailors and family members of the USS Cleveland. Commissioning Week will consist of formal military ceremonies, educational programs and public celebrations, including those that acknowledge Northeast Ohio manufacturers.
Constructed at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, the USS Cleveland reflects Northeast Ohio’s long-standing role supporting national defense, with coatings from Sherwin-Williams, steel from Cleveland-Cliffs, welds from Lincoln Electric and components manufactured by Parker Hannifin, TransDigm and The Hellan Strainer Company..
Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine, which has headquarters in Cleveland, supplied an estimated 30% of the coatings used on the ship, including those for the underwater hull, ballast and fuel tanks, decks, topside finishes and corrosion control systems. These high-performance products are designed to extend service life, reduce maintenance demands and support rapid return to service — all essential elements of Navy fleet readiness.
As a company founded and headquartered in Cleveland, it is incredibly meaningful to see a Navy ship bearing our city’s name — and to know our coatings are helping protect it. Every time the USS Cleveland sails, it carries a piece of home with it.
Research & Innovation with the U.S. Navy
Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine is not only a supplier to the U.S. Navy, but also a research partner that has developed many cost saving innovations, for example:
- Sherwin-Williams created coatings for the inside of ballast and fuel tanks that go on in one coat and cure rapidly, yet are free of copper and tin, as required by international regulations. These coatings protect against corrosion, mold and mildew. Sherwin-Williams was the first supplier to equip products of this kind with a deep purple light inspection technology, which greatly improved the speed, accuracy and safety of the inspection process.
- The company developed antifoulant coatings for the underwater hull of a ship to control marine growth, like barnacles, tube wires and grass. The coatings can also improve vessels’ fuel efficiency by 5% or more, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower fuel consumption and improve compliance with international regulations.
These two Sherwin-Williams technologies are among those employed on the USS Cleveland.
For more than two decades, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine has worked closely with the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the U.S. Naval Research Lab. Sherwin-Williams coatings are used across nearly the entire U.S. naval fleet, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, amphibious ships and patrol craft, as well as vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet.
Sherwin-Williams products enhance sailor safety, improve service life and add to the aesthetics of Navy marine assets. They are engineered to withstand extreme environments and meet stringent naval requirements and specifications (known as MIL-Spec); provide a long service life (20 years in many cases); and be applied efficiently, minimizing drydock maintenance schedules.
In addition to innovative coatings, Sherwin-Williams is known for the expertise of its sales and technical service representatives, who are available on a moment’s notice to work directly with the Navy and its contractors. Sherwin-Williams operates its own distribution system, warehouses its own products near major shipyards and delivers products directly to the customer, without the aid of distributors, resulting in a competitive advantage.