CLASSIFICATION NOTES

No. 33.1

CORROSION PREVENTION OF TANKS AND HOLDS

JULY 1999

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Veritasveien 1, N-1322 Hvik, Norway Tel.: +47 67 57 99 00 Fax: +47 67 57 99 11

FOREWORD
DET NORSKE VERITAS is an autonomous and independent Foundation with the objective of safeguarding life, property and
the environment at sea and ashore.
DET NORSKE VERITAS AS is a fully owned subsidiary Society of the Foundation. It undertakes classification and
certification of ships, mobile offshore units, fixed offshore structures, facilities and systems for shipping and other industries.
The Society also carries out research and development associated with these functions.
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administrations to carry out surveys and, in most cases, issue certificates on their behalf.
Classification Notes
Classification Notes are publications that give practical information on classification of ships and other objects. Examples of
design solutions, calculation methods, specifications of test procedures, as well as acceptable repair methods for some
components are given as interpretations of the more general rule requirements.
A list of Classification Notes is found in the latest edition of the Introduction booklets to the Rules for Classification of
Ships, the Rules for Classification of Mobile Offshore Units and the Rules for Classification of High Speed and Light
Craft. In Rules for Classification of Fixed Offshore Installations, only those Classification Notes that are relevant for this
type of structure, have been listed.
The list of Classification Notes is also included in the current Classification Services Publications issued by the Society,
which is available on request. All publications may be ordered from the Societys Web site http://exchange.dnv.com.

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CONTENTS
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3
2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.
5.

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................4
General ................................................................................................................................................................................4
Limitation ............................................................................................................................................................................4
Definitions ...........................................................................................................................................................................4
Coating Systems.................................................................................................................................................................5
General ................................................................................................................................................................................5
Coating system no. I Target useful life 5 years ................................................................................................................6
Coating system no. II Target useful life 10 years .............................................................................................................6
Coating system no. III - Target useful life 15 years ............................................................................................................7
Specific Applications of Coating Systems........................................................................................................................7
General ................................................................................................................................................................................7
Ballast water tanks...............................................................................................................................................................8
Cargo oil tanks.....................................................................................................................................................................8
Cargo holds..........................................................................................................................................................................8
References ..........................................................................................................................................................................8
Various degree of rusting on painted steel surfaces .......................................................................................................9

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Classification Notes No. 33.1

July 1999

1. Introduction
1.1 General
This Classification Note describes the quality levels in regard
to coating systems and their applicability in cargo tanks,
holds and spaces. The Classification Note is, in general,
referred to in the rules, when applicable.
The philosophy of the rules, applied in this Classification
Note, is briefly described below:
The rules for main class 1A1 reflect regulations contained in
the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS) and in the guidelines issued by the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International
Association of Classification Societies (IACS). In 1999 this
included:
-

Ballast water tanks shall in general be coated.

Coating specifications for seawater ballast tanks in oil
tankers and bulk carriers, constructed on or after 1 July
1998, are subject to approval. The requirements are
based on the June 1996 amendments of SOLAS Reg. II1/3-2 Corrosion prevention of seawater ballast tanks,
IMO Res. A.798(19) and IACS Unified Interpretation
(UI) SC122. The rules define the minimum content of a
specification describing the corrosion protection system
for the ballast tanks.
Cargo holds of bulk carriers shall be coated.

This Classification Note supports and further elaborates the

rule requirements related to additional class notations
COAT-1 and COAT-2. The code for the application of the
different coating systems is given in the rules for the
additional notations. The Classification Note is intended to
be a supplement to those rules.

1.2 Limitation
This Classification Note covers protection of common
carbon steel structures against seawater and the marine
environment, limited to water ballast tanks, oil cargo tanks
and holds of bulk carriers. The mentioned tanks and holds
are known to be most susceptible to corrosion and are thus of
prime concern. Product tanks are briefly considered.
The Classification Note does not address protection against
corrosive cargoes or chemicals.
DNV's approval of a coating specification does not imply
any follow-up of surface preparation or coating related
operations in the shipyard, unless explicitly agreed.

1.3 Definitions
Coat: A continuous film of paint from a single application.
Dry film thickness DFT: The thickness of the coating
remaining on the surface when the coating has hardened,
usually measured in microns (0,001 mm).

Durability of coating (useful life): Until 3 % breakthrough of

rust on coated surface areas, welds and edge areas,
respectively. Plain and large surface areas are to be
considered separately. See Figure 1. (See ISO Standard
4628/3, rust scale Ri 3 - 4, or Rust Grade 5, ASTM D 61085.)
Hard coating: A coating which chemically converts during
its curing process, normally used for new constructions, or
non-convertible air drying coating which may be used for
maintenance purposes. Hard coating can be either inorganic
or organic [1].
Nominal dry film thickness NDFT: The dry film thickness
specified for a coat or a coating system. Further details are
given under respective coating systems I, II and III.
Maximum dry film thickness: The highest acceptable dry film
thickness without impairing the coating quality.
Shop primer (pre-construction primer): Primer coating
applied as a thin film (approximately 15 25 microns) to
provide temporary corrosion protection of steel plates and
structures.
Sa 1: Light blast cleaning. Loose mill scale, rust and foreign
matter shall be removed. The appearance shall correspond to
the standard photos designated Sa 1. (This originally
Swedish standard SIS 055900-1967 is adopted as ISO
standard 8501-1. It is a pictorial surface preparation standard
for painting steel surfaces. Grades Sa 1 - Sa 3 describe blastcleaned surfaces.)
Sa 2: Thorough blast cleaning. Almost all mill scale, rust and
foreign matter shall be removed. Finally, the surface is
cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, clean, dry compressed air or
a clean brush. It shall then be greyish in colour and
correspond in appearance to standard photos designated Sa 2.
(See Sa 1.)
Sa 2,5 (Sa 2 1/2): Very thorough blast cleaning. Mill scale,
rust and foreign matter shall be removed to the extent that the
only traces remaining are slight stains in the form of spots or
stripes. Finally, the surface is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner,
clean, dry compressed air or a clean brush. It shall then
correspond to standard photos designated Sa 2,5. (See Sa 1.
It should be noted that Sa 2,5 is closer to Sa 3 than to Sa 2.
Sa 2,5 corresponds to NACE grade No. 2 (near white) and
SSPC grade SP 10 (near-white).)
Sa 3: Blast cleaning to pure metal. Mill scale, rust and
foreign matter shall be removed completely. Finally, the
surface is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, clean, dry
compressed air or a clean brush. It shall then have a uniform
metallic colour and correspond in appearance to standard
photos designated Sa 3. (See Sa 1. Sa 3 corresponds to
NACE grade No. 1 (white metal) and SSPC grade SP 5
(white).)

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Classification Notes No. 33.1

July 1999
St 2: Thorough scraping and wire brushing - machine
brushing - grinding - etc. The treatment shall remove loose
mill scale, rust and foreign matter. Finally, the surface is
cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, clean, dry compressed air or
a clean brush. It should have a faint metallic sheen. The
appearance shall correspond to standard photos designated St
2. (This originally Swedish standard SIS 055900-1967 is
adopted as ISO standard 8501-1. It is a pictorial surface
preparation standard for painting steel surfaces. Grades St 2 St 3 describe mechanically cleaned surfaces.)

IMO [1] has introduced the concept hard coating, defined

in 1.3. Other recognised hard coating as referred to in the
coating systems I to III could for example be based on
polyurethane, silicate, vinyl, etc.
In general, light colour coatings are recommended. Coatings
containing tar are dark.
Coats and thickness

2. Coating Systems

Coats and thickness describes the number of coats and the

nominal dry film thickness. The application of stripe coats
may be carried out before or after application of the full coat.
The nominal dry film thickness as stated in the coating
systems I to III is connected to the 80/20 rule or 90/5
rule, as described in further detail under the respective
specifications. To obtain a target minimum DFT, the average
thickness should be specified sufficiently high. E.g., with the
80/20 rule, to obtain a minimum DFT of 200 microns, the
nominal DFT should be about 250 microns.

2.1 General

Primary surface preparation

The coating systems I to III may be referred to in connection

with main class or additional class notations as is currently
valid and in future publications of the Rules for
Classification of Ships.

Primary surface preparation describes the surface

preparation of the steel plates before application. The
suitability and compatibility of the shop primer in the
corrosion prevention system is to be recommended by the
coating manufacturer. The shop primer is to be type
approved by DNV [9].

St 3: Very thorough scraping and wire brushing - machine

brushing - grinding - etc. Surface preparation as for St 2, but
much more thoroughly. After removal of dust, the surface
shall have a pronounced metallic sheen and correspond to
standard photos designated St 3 (See St 2).

The indicated coating systems I to III may be considered as

general coating systems recognised as being commonly used.
They are not meant to exclude other recognised or newly
developed systems.
In 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 three alternative coating systems, named
coating system I, II and III, are indicated. The systems are
not only intended to be primarily applicable to water ballast
tanks, cargo oil tanks and cargo holds, but also to product
tanks (in product tankers), as applicable. Notes about specific
applications for the different areas are given in 3.
A general description of the different coating systems I, II
and III are given below.
Target durability
The target durability is meant to be a rough indication of
durability of the coating, based on collected experience and
information. It is to be taken into consideration that the
durability of coatings and the susceptibility to corrosion of
different surfaces within the same tank may vary widely. The
durability (useful life) of the coating is defined in 1.3. The
specifications of the coating systems I, II and III represent
the minimum quality levels needed to obtain the
corresponding target useful coating life of 5, 10, and 15
years.
Coating system
The coating system describes the type of coating that is
applicable. Epoxy based coatings are by far the most
extensively used group of coating types (1999). A great
number of commercial products are marketed and sold as
pure epoxies, modified epoxies, coal tar epoxies,
epoxy mastics, surface tolerant epoxies, and other, more
or less characteristic types.

Secondary surface preparation

Secondary surface preparation includes preparation of
assemblies or sub-assemblies of steel structures. Typically,
this includes surface preparation:
-

at the block stage

at erection or pre-erection of sub-assemblies
repair of damage to the applied coating system, like
mechanical or burning damage.

Touch-up priming of areas with non-intact shop-primer is not

intended, but may be advantageous, depending on the
coating manufacturer's recommendation.
Clean conditions
Clean conditions describe the degree of cleaning required
including requirements for maximum salt content on the
surface, when relevant.
Thermal and hygrometric conditions
Thermal and hygrometric conditions describe limits for
steel temperature and air humidity under coating application
and blasting operations. Generally, the requirement of steel
temperature to be above the dew point, takes precedence
over the requirement for air humidity, when relevant.

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Classification Notes No. 33.1

July 1999

2.2 Coating system no. I Target useful life 5 years

Table 2.2 Coating System No. I
Target durability

5 years.

Coating system 1)

Epoxy based.
Other recognised hard coating 2).

1 coat 3).
Total nominal dry film thickness (NDFT) 200 microns4).

Coats and thickness

Primary surface
preparation

Steel plates shop primed on blast cleaned surface to Sa 2 Sa 2,5 (Sa 2,5 recommended).

Secondary surface
preparation

Welds and burns mechanically cleaned to minimum St. 3.

Clean conditions

Any visible salt contamination, oil, grease, dust, weld smoke or dirt on shop primed or other surface to be
coated, shall be removed by cleaning.

Thermal and
hygrometric conditions

The thermal and hygrometric conditions related to air humidity and steel temperature shall be within the
limits set by the coating manufacturer.

Comments to Coating system I:

1) Light coloured coatings are recommended. Coatings containing tar are dark.
2) The selection of a recognised coating may depend on the type of compartment and its function.
3) One stripe coat shall be applied on edges, welds and in areas where spraying may not be fully effective.
4) Nominal dry film thickness shall follow the 80/20 rule and is for Coating system I, defined as follows:
The average DFT based on measurements shall always be equal to or larger than the NDFT. Up to 20% of the area (measured
points) may have a thickness between 100% and 80% of the NDFT, but the measured dry film thickness shall always be larger than
80% of the NDFT.
The measured DFT shall not exceed the maximum dry film thickness defined by the paint manufacturer.

2.3 Coating system no. II Target useful life 10 years

Table 2.3 Coating System No. II
Target durability

10 years.

1)

Epoxy based.
Other recognised hard coating 2).

2 coats 3).
Total nominal dry film thickness (NDFT) 300 microns4) 6).

Coating system

Coats and thickness

Primary surface
preparation

Zinc containing, silicate based pre-fabrication primer on surface blast cleaned to minimum Sa 2,5.

Secondary surface
preparation

Sharp edges to be removed.

Damaged shop primer blast cleaned to Sa 2,5, including welds and burns. Intact shop primer can remain.
Mechanical cleaning to St 3 acceptable on block joints and damages5) to the applied coating system.

Clean conditions

Any visible salt contamination, oil, grease, dust, weld smoke or dirt on shop primed or other surface to be
coated, shall be removed by cleaning.
The chloride content on surfaces to be coated shall be within the limit set by the coating manufacturer, if
any.

Thermal and
hygrometric conditions

Air humidity 85 % and steel temperature 3 C above the dew point during blast cleaning and coating
application operations.

Comments to Coating system II:

1) Light coloured coatings are recommended. Coatings containing tar are dark. If coal tar epoxy is used, the epoxy to tar ratio shall
normally not be less than 60 to 40. If paint with a less epoxy to tar ratio is used (less epoxy, more tar), the thickness of the coating
may have to be increased.
2) The selection of a recognised coating may depend on the type of compartment and its function.
3) One stripe coat shall be applied prior to each full coat on edges, welds and in areas where spraying may not be fully effective.
4) Nominal dry film thickness shall follow the 80/20 rule and is for Coating system II, defined as follows:
The average DFT based on measurements shall always be equal to or larger than the NDFT. Up to 20% of the area (measured
points) may have a thickness between 100% and 80% of the NDFT, but the measured dry film thickness shall always be larger than
80% of the NDFT.
The measured DFT shall not exceed the maximum dry film thickness defined by the paint manufacturer.
5) Only applicable for a reasonable amount of damages. Otherwise the basic surface preparation shall be re-applied.
6) The NDFT depends on the type of coating. Refers to epoxy based coatings only.

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Classification Notes No. 33.1

July 1999

2.4 Coating system no. III - Target useful life 15 years

Table 2.4 Coating System No. III
Target durability

Coating system 1)

15 years.
Epoxy based
Other recognised hard coating 2).

Coats and thickness

2 3 coats 3).
Total nominal dry film thickness (NDFT) 300-400 microns4).

Primary surface
preparation

Zinc containing, silicate based pre-fabrication primer on surface blast cleaned to minimum Sa 2,5.

Secondary surface
preparation

Sharp edges to be removed.

Damaged shop primer blast cleaned to Sa 2,5, including welds and burns. Intact shop primer shall be
sweep blasted. Mechanical cleaning to St 3 is acceptable on block joints and damages to the applied
coating system.

Clean conditions

Any visible salt contamination, oil, grease, dust, weld smoke or dirt on shop primed or other surface to be
coated, shall be removed by cleaning.
The chloride content on surfaces to be coated shall be less than 50 mg/m2 (as NaCl) according to Bresle
conductimetric method, or an equally recognised method.

Thermal and
hygrometric conditions

Air humidity 85 % and steel temperature 3 C above the dew point during blast cleaning and coating
application operations.

Comments to Coating system III

1) Light coloured coatings are recommended. Coatings containing tar are dark. If coal tar epoxy is used the epoxy to tar
ratio shall not be less than 60 to 40.
2) The selection of a recognised coating may depend on the type of compartment and its function.
3) One stripe coat shall be applied prior to each full coat on edges, welds and in areas where spraying may not be fully
effective.
4) Nominal dry film thickness shall follow the 90/5 rule and is for Coating system III, defined as follows:
The average DFT based on measurements shall always be equal to or larger than the NDFT. Up to 5% of the area
(measured points) may have a thickness between 100% and 90% of the NDFT, but the measured dry film thickness shall
always be larger than 90% of the NDFT.
The measured DFT shall not exceed the maximum dry film thickness defined by the paint manufacturer.
5) Only applicable for a reasonable amount of damages. Otherwise the basic surface preparation shall be re-applied.

3. Specific Applications of Coating Systems

3.1 General
Specific applications of Coating systems I, II and III are
described in 3.2 to 3.4.
Environmental aspects are currently becoming increasingly
important for the development and the selection of coating
materials. E.g., the use of coal tars is prohibited in some
countries due to their toxicity; and a successive exclusion of
coal tar epoxies in shipbuilding, in other countries, may be
foreseen.
Another trend due to environmental considerations is to
reduce the solvent content in coating materials as far as is
possible. This is to reduce the release of volatile organic
compounds into the atmosphere. This trend results in the use
of solvent free, high solids or low solvent containing coating
materials. These materials may have a potential for the buildup of high dry film thickness, including local over-thickness.

Environmental restrictions are also put on the use of abrasive

blast cleaning. This implies an emerging market for high
pressure water jetting or hydro blasting as an alternative
surface preparation to blast cleaning, although mainly for
maintenance coating of ships in operation. An advantage
with hydro jetting is, provided clean fresh water is used, that
the salt content on the surfaces to be coated can be reduced
to a very low level. Since salts are recognised as being
detrimental to the coating quality, promoting blistering and
under-rusting, the lack of anchor pattern by hydro jetting
compared with blast cleaning may to some degree be
compensated for by the salts being removed.
The epoxy content in coatings, especially in coal tar epoxies,
may be varying. The quality and thus the durability of the
applied coating film may to a large degree be dependent on
the percentage of epoxy resin materials in the coating. The
content of epoxy resin (A + B components altogether) in the
dry film should not be less than about 40 %. The figure of 40
% is, however, not meant to indicate any hindrance to the
development of new types of coating materials.

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Classification Notes No. 33.1

July 1999

3.2 Ballast water tanks

3.4 Cargo holds

Ballast water tanks are generally to be coated with hard

protective coating or an equivalent. Coating system II and III
are applicable to the additional class notations COAT-1 and
COAT-2.

Coating systems I, II and III are generally applicable but may

be modified as regards coating thickness and number of
coats, if relevant. The coating is to be epoxy or equivalent,
giving adequate corrosion protection to the surfaces in
question. The cargo type and mode of operation of the ship
must also be taken into consideration.

Coating system II with a target durability of 10 years is

regarded as representing a quality level equal to, or above,
the intention in SOLAS, Regulation II-1/3-2 [2].
Coating system III with a target durability of 15 years, is
regarded as representing a quality level well above the
intention in the same SOLAS Regulation.
Coating system I with a target durability of 5 years is
regarded as representing a quality level below that intended
in the same SOLAS Regulation, and is not recommended for
use in ballast water tanks.
Light coloured coatings are recommended [2]. The general
viewpoints given under 3.1 are valid for newbuildings.

3.3 Cargo oil tanks

Coating systems I, II and III are applicable. Steel plates
should be shop primed, and the primer should contain zinc
and be silicate based. Coating is recommended in cargo oil
tank bottom plating and structures and underneath deck and
deck structures, according to the rules [9].
On the bottom plating, the coating is to prevent bottompitting corrosion that can occur in sour, foul water,
precipitated from oil cargoes, from condensation of moisture
in the air, etc. Bacterial corrosion attacks superimposed on
common electrolytic corrosion may give very high corrosion
rates on bottom plates unless properly protected by a coating.
This is especially so in double hull vessels due to the high
cargo temperatures being maintained over a prolonged period
(thermal isolation or thermos bottle effect of the double
hull).
The topside of horizontal stringer decks should be protected
with a coating due to its susceptibility to pitting corrosion
due to deposits settling out from the cargo, as for the bottom
plating.
Plating and associated structures underneath deck are often
susceptible to more or less uniform corrosion attacks due to
the cyclic sun heating and cooling effect, water
condensation, abundant oxygen supply and washing and
sloshing of cargo. Proper application of a suitable coating is
recommended. Sacrificial anodes will not be effective due to
the fact that there is no bulk electrolyte for the distribution of
the protective current.
The coating types suitable for cargo oil tanks must be oil
resistant and will usually be epoxy based. The coating type
should be selected in co-operation with the coating
manufacturer. Coal tar epoxies will usually not be oil
resistant and may easily become brittle due to the light tar
components that may be washed away and or evaporate, due
to cyclic sun heating.

All internal parts of the cargo holds, except flat tank top
areas, hopper tanks sloping plating and transverse bulkheads
bottom stool, approximately 300 mm below shell frame, and
brackets are to be coated. Internal and external surfaces of
hatch coamings and hatch covers are also to be coated. Refer
to the current Rules for Classification of Ships [7], [9].
Coating of the flat tank top areas and other surfaces
exempted from the rule requirement [7], [9], see above, is
recommended. This is provided that a coating or floor
covering can be found that is sufficiently tough to withstand
the impacts, abrasion and general rough treatment by grabs,
bulldozers, etc. during loading and unloading.
Due concern should be given to coatings used for grain or
other edible cargoes that they are properly certified for the
purpose by the responsible authorities.

4. References
[1] International Maritime Organization, (IMO). Resolution
A.798(19), Guidelines for the Selection, Application and
Maintenance of Corrosion Prevention Systems of Dedicated
Seawater Ballast Tanks, adopted 1995.
[2] SOLAS June 1996 Amendments, Regulation II-1/3-2,
Corrosion Prevention of Seawater Ballast Tanks, adopted by
resolution MSC.47(66).
[3] International Association of Classification Societies
(IACS). Guidelines for Acceptance, Application and Survey
of Semi-hard Coatings in Ballast Tanks. IACS
Recommendation No. 54, September 1998.
[4] Det Norske Veritas. Type Approval Programme for
Protective Coating Systems. No. 1-602.1, 1998.
[5] IACS. Survey Guidelines for Tanks in which Soft
Coatings have been applied. IACS Recommendation No. 44,
1996.
[6] Det Norske Veritas. Guidelines No. 8, for Corrosion
Protection of Ships. (July 1996 or later edition).
[7] IACS Unified Requirement Z9 (1996).
[8] ASTM D 1500. Test Method for ASTM Colour of
Petroleum Products (ASTM Colour Scale).
[9] Det Norske Veritas. Rules for Classification of Ships.
(July 1998 or later edition).

DET NORSKE VERITAS

Classification Notes No. 33.1

July 1999

5. Various degree of rusting on painted

steel surfaces

Figure 1 Examples of degree of rusting on painted steel

surfaces
The black spots of the figure representing 3 % of the surface
are denoted as Rust Grade 5 and define the limit for coating
durability (useful life). Those representing 10 % are denoted
Rust Grade 4. Figure copied from ASTM D610-85.

DET NORSKE VERITAS