How Ships Fight Corrosion at Sea?

Corrosion can be a major issue for any industry that works with metal, including the shipping industry. The harsh marine climate, with its high salt and moisture levels, makes the ships prone to corrosion. If left unattended, it can weaken the ship’s construction, raising safety issues and requiring expensive repairs.

Corrosion is a process that occurs with metals, involving them moving towards their lowest energy state, which results in a quick reaction between the environment and the metal, hence degrading its quality and life. Corrosion is derived from the Latin word ‘corrodere’, which means ‘gnaw to pieces’.

In case of the marine or shipping sector, mild steel is the most preferred metal for constructing ships due to its low cost, mechanical strength and ease of fabrication. However, its main issue is that it corrodes quite easily as it comes in contact with the salty water of the sea. Secondly, if it is not properly protected, it loses its strength quite fast, which could lead to structural failure.