How to Protect Your Cargo Ship Holds from Corrosion

A significant challenge in dry bulk shipping is transporting cargoes that have corrosive reactions with the carrier’s metal cargo hold. Widely carried materials like salt, coal, fertilisers, and sulphur in particular, interact in this way. The damage these reactions cause to the ship’s structure over time, as well as the increase in contamination risk to the cargo, cannot be overstated. The solution is to apply a marine barrier for maximum cargo ship hold protection during the cleaning and prep cycle . Here's how it works.

Marine barriers give cargo ship holds protection

In preparation for loading caustic materials, cargo holds need a marine barrier to shield them from the corrosive effects they will be subjected to over the course of the voyage.

A marine barrier creates a film over the metal hold to separate it from the cargo. This film notably reduces the effects of caustic damage, thus extending the ship’s working life. It also minimises corrosion. Less corrosion reduces the risk of contamination. Greater ship longevity and fewer instances of contamination both yield meaningful savings.

Marine barriers are not a new idea. However, advancements in the field have made older barriers, like limewash, obsolete–not that it ever worked that well anyway. Modern marine barriers offer a host of benefits from superior cargo ship hold protection, easier application and faster clean-up. Additionally, they are non-toxic to people, and environmentally friendly. Thus, crews are safer and MARPOL compliance is simpler.

The benefits of using a marine barrier are highest when applied each time there’s a possibility of a caustic reaction with a cargo.

Our RBM HoldBlock® is a specially formulated protective barrier solution that has been designed for vessels carrying corrosive cargoes such as sulphur and salt. Contact us with questions or help with your order: 1-604-531-8333