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Corrosion protection of our ships in the marine environment has challenged us

for years in the areas of their hulls and internal tanks, the use of coaltars being
prevalent. Nowadays however there are many innovative types of epoxy
coatings and specialized paints available to combat corrosion attack
Ships and offshore structures require protection against the marine
environment. This protection is required above and below the waterline as well
as the splash zone in offshore structures, being exposed to both air and liquid
assault.
Storage tanks such as fresh water and ballast tanks also require special internal
anti-corrosive coating as do the oil storage tanks in oil tankers.
The properties and applications of these coatings are provided by guidelines,
rules, and regulations set out by governing bodies such as SOLAS and the
IMO.
Depending on their particular application, corrosive resistant coatings can be
supplied in various categories such as paint and epoxies.
This is an article on the protection of ships against corrosion, here we will
examine the potential damage caused by the corrosive marine environment.
We begin by having a look at the different areas of these vessels, go on to
examine the different types of protection available.

Susceptible Areas
These areas are listed below:

Hulls

This includes the area above and below the waterline and can sometimes be
combined with an anti friction coatings on the hull below the waterline.

Decks

Decks liable to corrosion due to salt being deposited on the plating and also due
to the wearing of the coating due to deck-work

Tanks

Ballast Tanks

Ballast tanks are very susceptible to corrosion due to their constant wet and dry
conditions when the ship is ballasted or carrying a full cargo.
Ballast tanks have been in the news regarding the spreading of non-indigenous
seawater borne marine bacteria, organisms and barnacles. Coatings to
eradicate these have been developed and are applied after a coating of anti
corrosive material.
Freshwater Storage Tanks
These tanks used to be cement washed and then chlorinated to prevent
corrosion and protect against E-Coli and Legionnaires disease. More modern
methods are available today.

Treatment of Susceptible Areas

Hulls

Area Below the Waterline

This underwater area is protected from corrosion following the hull construction
before it is launched. One of the more popular protection used is two part coaltar epoxy in conjunction with a vinyl tar coat.
This combination has been found satisfactory and can be repaired at the ships
yearly drydock survey.

Decks and Hulls Above the Waterline.

Ships decks are also liable to corrosion due to being immersed in seawater
during adverse weather depositing salt on the plating. When I was at sea the
sailors were forever chipping away and repainting the deck or hanging over the
side in a bosuns chair, attacking the hull. This was not complimentary to my
after lunch snooze before going on the 4-8 watch.
Anyway, protection of deck and above waterline areas is carried out using a well
tested combination of alkyd and chlorinated rubber.

Tanks

Ballast Tanks
Ballast tanks are very susceptible to corrosion due to constant humidity
promoted by their surface wet and dry conditions depending if the ship is
ballasted or carrying a full cargo.
Ballast tanks have been accused of being the importer and spreading of nonindigenous seawater borne marine bacteria, organisms and barnacles. Coatings

to eradicate these have been developed and are applied after a coating of
anticorrosive material.
Ballast tanks used to be coated with coal tar epoxy (CTE) but now epoxy
products produced in hydrocarbon refining has been developed. This is applied
in two coats and is one of the current methods used against corrosion in ballast
tanks.
Freshwater Storage Tanks
These tanks used to be cement washed and then chlorinated to prevent
corrosion and protect against E-Coli and Legionnaires disease. I well remember
the taste of the newly bunkered fresh water after the mate had liberally dosed it
with chlorine. Yuck! Not nice in afternoon tea, to say nothing about the rum!
Nowadays an application of pure epoxy, applied under strict guidelines by an
experienced contractor is one method. This can be supplemented with a strictly
controlled addition of silver nitrate or chlorine to the tank being used to control
any bacteria in the water.
Cargo Tanks
This is a vast subject due to the various cargoes carried by todays merchant
vessels from crude oil to chemicals, so will cover this fully in a future article on
Cargo Tank Protective Coatings.
However, in the interim we will have a quick look at t
he protection of oil storage tanks in a crude oil tanker. The corrosion in these
areas is caused by the sulphurous and water contained in the crude, combined
with other water vapour and the flexing of the ships structure. Microbes also
compliment corrosion as they ingress into the protective coating. The new high
tensile steels used in ships construction and the innovation of double hulled
vessels has had a detrimental effect on tanks, being sited to have exacerbated
corrosion and pitting instances.
Crude oil tank internals can be protected by applications of Coal tar and pure
epoxy coatings.
Anyway I will leave it there as I am coming back to this subject in a later article.
Websites Visited
1. calthelco: (ICCP) Impressed Current Cathodic Protection
2. DNV: Corrosion protection of ships.
3. sintef: Corrosion protection in marine environment.

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