Cargo Holds

Cargo hold coatings must possess not only good anticorrosive properties, but also a number of other important properties, including chemical and abrasion resistance against the vast array of modern bulk cargoes. Future operating conditions and the type of cargoes to be carried must therefore be taken into careful consideration when selecting the optimum coating system.

Some bulk cargoes are extremely abrasive because they are of hard material. Scrap iron and iron ore pellets are typical examples which have high abrasive impact on bulkheads and tanktops. Coal may be a very corrosive cargo if sulphuric acid is developed during transportation. Also the temperature of a coal cargo may be very high - either because temperature is high during loading or because the coal generates heat due to oxidation. Consequently, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance and heat resistance are important properties which have to be built into the coating system.

Futher requirements include certificate for the transportation of grain as it is important that the coating system does not exude substances harmful to the health. The coating must be easy to clean, and cleaning is most effectively controlled if the cargo hold is coated in a light colour. Finally, loading, discharging and mooring operations may cause extensive deformation of the steel, and consequently the coating system must also have optimum adhesion and flexibility in order to provide the corrosion protection required.