Coating

Coating is the process in which a ship is coated with special resin from the Yarukiman Mangroves. The coating gives the ship a jelly like texture and a bubble like lusture and has the ability to reduce all pressure on the ship, though it loses the ability to stay afloat. Coating is a very delicate procedure and must be done carefully, for if a mistake is made, the ship may be crushed by the pressure. It is unknown how coating is done on a ship, though Silvers Rayleigh has given evidence that part of the equipment used for coating are brushes.

Coating Mechanics
A coating mechanic is a person who coats a ship with the special resin that alows the ships to submerge. It is an expensive job and can take several days to complete. This is because if the job is done poorly, the ship might break with the pressure. So far only one coating mechanic has been identified in One Piece.
 * Silvers Rayleigh

Using a coated ship
Once a ship is coated, it loses the abiility to stay afloat. To keep afloat, a special 'floating bag' is needed to support the ship. A coated ship also has a valve that connects the ship to an air bag underwater. By turning the valves, the resin on the ships deck rises, giving the ship a 'bubble roof.' This 'bubble roof' gives the crew protection from the various pressures underwater. When the ship once again re-emerges, the bubble resin layer pops.

Navigating a coated ship
Once the floating bag is removed, the ship starts to sink. However it does not mean it will sink straight down. The ship is to be navigated by using the under water sea currents as it would use the wind on the ocean surface.

Coated Ships

 * Moby Dick
 * Thousand Sunny