Forth Bridge and Nanotechnology paint

A few years ago our eldest son and family lived in the far North of Scotland. Often we would fly up to see them catching a commuter plane from Birmingham. One of the advantages of travelling in a small plane is that they normally fly at a lower altitude, thus enabling good views of the countryside below. If the weather was clear we could easily pick out landmarks we recognised. The cluster of large cooling towers in the Midlands, Blackpool tower, and then the glorious Lake District. The plane at this stage turns to the east, crossing over Emperor Hadrian’s Wall, and then up to the borders of Scotland. We always knew we were well over the Scottish border when we caught a glimpse of the Forth Bridge, looking like a giant red necklace strung out across the neck of the Firth of Forth, below which it's waters plunge off to the North sea.

Since its construction in 1890 it has required a permanent maintenance crew. In fact, “Painting the Forth Bridge”, is a colloquial expression for a never-ending task, coined in the belief that at one time bridge repainting was required and commenced immediately upon completion of the previous repaint.

Now for the first time in its history it will be free of workmen and scaffolding as the last paint commission has recently been completed. The repaint started in 2002 for a schedule of work which was expected to continue into 2009. It was, however, completed in December 2011. Before the repaint commenced all the previous paint had to be removed down to the original steel. The new coat of paint has been specially developed and is expected to have a life of at least 25 years and perhaps as long as 40, thus removing the need for constant repainting. New technology keeps on expanding our horizons, the paint essentially binds with the metal to stop moisture getting through.
This nanotechnology paint has previously only been used in the offshore oil business, and