Guidelines for Ballast Tank Coatings Systems and Surface Preparation - 2014 Revised Edition

This publication provides good practice guidance on the selection and application of ballast tank coatings. Technical diagrams illustrate chemical bonding, highlighting methods to prevent corrosion of steel surfaces. Safety considerations are outlined to ensure crew avoid hazards during the coating process. The coating of new build ships is explained, with detail on the differences between seawater and freshwater tank maintenance.

These guidelines contain information and advice on technical matters related to the design, building, operation, maintenance and repair of the corrosion protection systems of ships’ ballast tanks.

The intent of these guidelines is to provide options and information to designers, shipyards and ship owners and to be used as a reference document for shipbuilding, ship repair and ship maintenance purpose.

Part 1 Introduction

1 General

2 Teamwork

3 Corrosion

4 Coatings

4.1 Adhesion

4.2 The Initial Adhesion

4.3 Coating Materials

4.4 Low Temperature Curing Products

4.5 Pre-construction Primer

4.6 Use of Block Stage Holding Primer

4.7 Edge Retentive Products

5 Cathodic Protection by Use of Anodes

6 Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC)

7 Inert Gas in Ballast Tanks

Part 2 New Building Corrosion Protection of Ships’ Ballast Tanks

1 General

2 Planning

3 Cathodic Protection

4 Coating Selection

5 Steel Surface Preparation

5.1 Pre-cleaning

6 Coating Application and Curing

6.1 Stripe Coating

6.2 Environmental Control

6.3 Pre-application Controls

6.4 Thickness Minimum/Maximum Window

6.5 Erection Join-up Areas

7 Acceptance Criteria
8 Seawater Testing – Tank Final Inspection

8.1 Seawater (or Water) Testing

8.2 Defects Found During Tank Final Inspection

9 Inspection

9.1 Yard Quality Control Duty

9.2 Contractor Quality Control Duty

9.3 Coatings Manufacturer Quality Control Duty

9.4 Owner’s Coatings Inspector Duty

10 Reporting

11 Safety

12 Guarantees

Part 2.1 New Building Corrosion Protection of Ships’ Ballast Tanks

1 General

2 Planning

3 Cathodic Protection

4 Coating Selection and Storage

5 Steel Surface Preparation

6 Coating Application and Curing

7 Testing

8 Inspection

9 Reporting

10 Safety

11 Removal and Disposal

12 Specification Summary Tables

Part 3 In Service Maintenance of Ballast Tank Coating Systems

1 General

2 Methods of Surface Preparation

3 Process Considerations

4 Principle of Repairs

4.1 Seawater Ballast Tanks

4.2 Fresh Water Tanks

5 Contractors

6 In Service Condition Monitoring

Witherbys

Witherbys titles are developed using scripts developed by technical experts that are peer reviewed within work groups. Typically, they seek to improve understanding of the regulations, recommendations and guidelines issued by Industry.

Witherbys staff have significant expertise in the fields of navigation and hazardous cargoes as well as in the presentation of complex subjects in a graphic and easy to understand manner.