Professional Documents
Culture Documents
-1-
A small hole was clearly visible on the bulkhead of No 7 stbd tank & the surrounding steel had several spots of localized corrosion. On No 6 stbd tank bulkhead, UT thickness measurements indicated that the steel was in places up to 40% depleted. Both tank bulkhead plates were cut out & renewed by the Yard & the tanks were pressure tested by air to verify the welds. All box-cooler sea chests were inspected for signs of corrosion & the opposite cooler on the port side of the vessel was removed to aid closer inspection though no corrosion was present. Background info The box-coolers on the vessel had never been removed before therefore the coating in the hull area surrounding the box-coolers had not been renewed due to the limitation of access with the box-cooler in place. Vessel is due its 10 year Class renewal docking & surveys April 2012 when the box-coolers were planned to be removed to have the mounting gasket renewed. Vessel was last dry-docked 1.5yr previously with no indications of corrosion visible. The vessel had problems with the impressed current anti-fouling system which was identified after first dry-docking; it is likely that the isolation coating on the box-cooler tubes was damaged due to cleaning which has attributed to the corrosion. Insufficient sacrificial anodes installed from new-build to protect the hull areas surrounding the box-coolers in case of coating damage.
Actions 1. Remove all box-coolers during 10yr docking for inspection & renewal of tank coatings. 2. Develop an anode plan for the box-cooler sea chest areas & install at next dry-docking. 3. Box-cooler manufacturer to advise how to recoat box-cooler tube stacks with a suitable coating & attend at next dry-docking to inspect the coating. 4. All relevant company vessels with box-coolers installed in a similar way that prohibits renewal of the local hull coating to be removed & surrounding area to be recoated every 5 years at class renewal dockings. Job to be implemented in the relevant vessel PMS systems. 5. A sister vessel was dry-docked to investigate any similar issues with the box coolers. Corrosion was identified on 4 Port during the docking although not as serious as observed on the previous vessel, surrounding zinc anodes were approximately 70% depleted. Any corroded steel was repaired & anodes renewed, the vessel will dry-dock again for the scheduled 10yr class renewal docking. 6. DNV was commissioned to investigate the corrosion issues found on the previous vessel & have formed part of the investigation team.
-2-
The information available on this Safety Flash and our associated web site is provided in good faith and only for the purpose s of enhancing safety and best practice. For the avoidance of doubt no legal liability shall be attached to any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
-3-