Comprehensive guide to marine barriers for dry bulk carriers

Cargo holds are the lifeblood of dry bulk shipping. So keeping them in optimal condition makes good financial sense, both in the short term and long term.

One of the best ways to keep cargo holds in great condition is to protect them with a marine barrier when transporting greasy or caustic cargoes.

What’s a marine barrier? And how and when is it used? We’re covering those questions and more in this blog-sized, comprehensive guide to marine carriers for dry bulk carriers.

What is a marine barrier?

A marine barrier is a solution applied to cargo holds to physically separate the cargo from the metal of the hold. Limewash has traditionally been used, but is not very effective. Modern marine barriers, like RBM HoldBlock®, provide effective coverage, and are environmentally safe and user-friendly.

Why use a marine barrier?

Some cargoes are damaging to cargo holds because they actually eat away at the metal. Or they leave behind stubborn residues that build up to become problematic, requiring excessive time to deal with. A marine barrier acts as a physical barrier–a thin, flexible film–between these types of cargoes and the ship. It helps to mitigate the effects of corrosion and staining.

Where do you use a marine barrier?

A marine barrier is applied to cargo holds before taking on caustic or dirty cargoes. For example, here is an excerpt from the application instructions for RMB HoldBlock:

“Start at the bottom of the bulkheads and work your way up.” “Work your way up to about 4/5 meters, then cover the tanktops. Ensure full coverage on these areas. Check to see how much product has been used. If less than 2/3 drum, continue application higher.”

When do you use a marine barrier?

Marine barriers protect the ship from caustic cargoes, like sulphur, fertilizers, and salt, and from greasy cargoes like coal and green delayed petcoke, which have high carbon/oil content. A marine barrier solution should be used each time these cargoes are being transported.

How do you use a marine barrier?

Application of our marine barrier is easy. Paint should be fully cured, and residues from previous cargoes must be removed beforehand. Large puddles should be mopped up. Only a light spray is required using low-pressure equipment. The barrier needs time to dry before loading cargo.

After cargo has been discharged from the cargo hold, remaining residues and the marine barrier itself are easily removed with RBM HoldWash-HD®.

We hope this mini-guide has been helpful to you. If you have any questions about marine barriers and/or RBM HoldBlock, we are more than happy to answer them.  We can be reached at 1-604-531-8333.

RBM HoldSolutions® has been providing cargo ship holds protection against corrosive bulk materials such as sulphur, coal, petcoke, salts and fertilizers since 1999. Our environmentally-friendly cleaning & barrier formulations are non-harmful and easy to apply. Contact us here.