This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Spring/Summer 2019 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Rust and corrosion are estimated to cost the marine industry US$80 billion per year. Yet shipowners often see corrosion maintenance as an expensive but necessary part of recurring maintenance. A new approach would be to use duplex coatings that can provide corrosion protection over the entire service life of the vessel – that’s up to 25 years free of interim coating maintenance.
By using duplex coatings such as zinc thermal spray and paint, shipowners can lower their total cost of ownership. Slightly higher initial expenditures are significantly offset over the lifetime of the ship, with coating maintenance redundant and related downtime saved. In addition, the vessel is kept in better shape, adding value to aesthetic appearance and asset resale price.
Duplex coatings comprise a thermal spray zinc or zinc alloy base coat and a paint top coat. They are already successfully and widely used by other industries for maritime applications such as offshore wind tower structures which can stay in service 25 years without coating maintenance, and road and rail steel bridges in coastal areas over salty waters.
Metallic zinc coatings, whether thermal sprayed or galvanised, are highly effective because they provide both a physical barrier and cathodic protection for the underlying steel and thus are extremely long lasting.
IZA would be willing to highlight the benefits of thermal spray to shipowners by coating part of their ship at no cost. Find out more.
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