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New Corrosion Protection System in Water Ballast Tanks IHI ECO SYSTEM : IECOS
Preface
Heavy coating by means of tarepoxy paint is the current main stream of protecting steel surface in water ballast tanks from corrosion. However, painting work requires high skill and large manpower, furthermore painting is not the permanent counter-measure and periodical maintenance is essentially required.
To solve such problems, IHI has developed the new corrosion protection system as IECOS based on the various performance tests since 1990.
Mechanism
IECOS is a method of protecting steel surface from corrosion under the existence of sea water by forming electro-chemically anti-corrosive film on it.
Charging electricity to ionized Calcium and Magnesium which exist in sea water changes them to corrosion protection components electro-chemically and makes them adhere to the tank surface. Therefore, this is an epoch-making system that keeps steel surface free from corrosion permanently where ballasting and/or deballasting is repeatedly carried out.
Application
IECOS can be applied not only for new built ships but also for repair ships without heavy surface preparation, so that it achieves the effective corrosion protection with saving the cost.
IHI has already applied IECOS to the part of ballast tanks of two new built ships and one repair ship, and they are kept in the expected condition up to now.
