Effective Strategies for Cargo Ship Hold Corrosion Protection

Dry bulk carriers, by nature, are vulnerable to the very conditions in which they have to work. High-moisture environments, salt water and corrosive cargos are all detrimental to their structural metal.

Since ships are a huge investment, it makes financial sense to do what you can to protect them. Therefore, effective strategies such as cargo ship hold protection should be implemented to minimise damage and prolong their lifespan.

Coatings are the primary way of protecting the ship’s metal from corrosive elements. Ideally, these coatings consist of a base layer of paint, with a hold block or limewash sprayed overtop.

Cargo ship hold protection coatings

• Paint
• Hold block
• Lime wash

Paints are a crucial first step in cargo hold protection. Practise diligence to ensure this layer stays intact and repair it as needed. In between cargo loads, remove flaking paint to avoid contamination of the next cargoes.

When taking on aggressively corrosive cargos like salt and sulphur, a hold block offers the best protection. Apply with a wand to create a thin, flexible film overtop of the metal. This acts as a physical barrier to inhibit the cargo reacting with the metal of the ship. It is easily washed away with its companion hold wash after the cargo has been unloaded.

Lime wash has traditionally been used in the past and performs the same role as a hold block, but not as well. Sulphur prills can push through the softened lime and start to corrode the metal. Thicker layers of application provide more protection, however lime wash is difficult to remove. The whole process ends up  not being as effective and costing more in time than a hold block. As everyone in shipping knows, time is money.

In conclusion, coatings of paint and hold block are the best strategy for cargo ship hold protection. To that end, RBM Hold Solutions has developed a lab-tested, specially formulated hold block to be used as a physical barrier for ships transporting caustic cargoes. RBM HoldBlock® is 18x more effective than lime wash and is non-harmful. Additionally, it is easily applied and equally easily removed with its companion solution RBM HoldWash-HD®. Both work to reduce turnaround times so you can stay precisely on schedule.

RBM HoldSolutions® provides the very best in cleaning and barrier solutions! Thousands of vessels have trusted our eco-friendly products for their cargo. Call to order: 1-604-531-8333