MAINTENANCE

What is corrosion?
Apart from the efficient lubrication of all
moving parts, probably the most
important part of ship maintenance is the
preservation of the hull and its component
parts.
What is corrosion?
This can only be achieved by eliminating
(or since this is normally too expensive),
preventing and reducing corrosion.
What is corrosion?
Corrosion is the disintegration of an
engineered material into its constituent
atoms due to chemical reactions with its
surroundings.

In the most common use of the word, this
means electrochemical oxidation of metals in
reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen.
What is corrosion?
Oxidation of the
iron atoms in
solid solution is
an example of
electrochemical
corrosion known
as rusting.
What is corrosion?
In other words, corrosion is the wearing
away of metals due to a chemical
reaction.
Painting
To prevent metal corroding it is necessary
to coat the metal with a preparation that
will exclude the atmosphere.

Normally paint is used for this purpose,
some fittings may be galvanised, it is
nevertheless usual to paint over the
galvanizing.

Do not use a lead(Pb) based paint on
galvanizing or aluminium.
What is galvanizing?
Its a metallurgical process that is used to
coat steel or iron with zinc.
With an old ship
Before painting
All superstructure paintwork must be well
cleaned by washing with soda or other solution
and all dirt, oil, grease, etc., removed.

Then, the paintwork must be rinsed with clean
fresh water and all trace of the soda or
cleaning agent removed.

Loose paint is lifted with a scraper, heavy rust
will usually loosen when hit with a hammer.
With an old ship
Before painting
With an old ship
Sharp chipping hammers should not be
used on either rust or paint, they only
mark the metal and make things worse.

Hammers or scrapers shouldnt be used
when there is any possibility of
combustible gas or vapor being present.

Finally wire brush to remove anything
left.
With an old ship
Coat with 2 coats of a primer followed by
a coat of undercoating.

The whole surface is then given a coat of
undercoating followed by a coat of gloss
or enamel.

The surface should always be clean and
dry.
With an old ship
Each coat of conventional paint is given at
least 24 hours in which to dry before the
next coat is applied.

However, many modern paints will dry in
a few hours, some can even be applied on
a damp surface, others dont require an
undercoat.
With an old ship
So, before attempting anything, it is
necessary to be sure that the paint is
suited to the use to which it is proposed to
put it.
Various types of paint
PRIMERS. Applied to seal an unpainted
surface.

UNDERCOATS. Applied on top of primers
to provide a base color and a
good key for the top coat.

TOP COATS. Applied over undercoating to
provide a hard wearing
surface.
Various types of paint
HEAT RESISTANT. For use on hot
surfaces.

FIRE-RETARDANT. Has low flame spread
characteristics and is for use on exposed
surfaces in corridors or stairways,
accomodation and service spaces.

ANTI-CORROSIVE. Primer on the ships
bottom.
Various types of paint
RED LEAD. An oil based primer.

FLAT PAINT. An oil based undercoating.

GLOSS or ENAMEL. Top coat for exterior
surfaces.

SEMI-GLOSS. Top coat for interior
surfaces.
Various types of paint
BOOT-TOPING
Painting used on the exterior of the hull
area that is out of water when the ship is
light and under water when the ship is
loaded.

Various types of paint
TOP-SIDE
Paint used on the exterior of the hull above
the water line when the ship is loaded.