The Effects of Corrosion in the Marine Industry

The harsh environment of the marine industry is known for causing corrosion of the infrastructure and equipment which costs individuals and companies.  In fact, “It has been estimated that the total cost of marine corrosion worldwide is between $50-80 billion every year” (Maritime Industry).  What is astonishing about these numbers is that the coatings industry accounts for 40% of the total direct cost!Investing in corrosion prevention is a wise decision for companies in the marine industry. Salt is one of the most corrosive substances for metals. Many of these companies are spending their resources on coating highly corrosive metal, although there is a more effective option. Coating metal is beneficial and indeed essential to slow down the corrosion process, but metal still has a limited lifespan. Even if the coating is removed and reapplied every one to two years, rusting issues persist that cannot be fully resolved. The rust in these areas will continue to spread only further, increasing the amount of corrosion (Albrecht, 2014).  

Know more: Fibreglass Gratings vs. Metal Gratings: Choosing Project Materials

Alternative materials, such as Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP), require less maintenance while at the same time maintains a longer service life. Depending on the application, GRP products may need a UV protection sealant; however, the sealant application does not require the amount of maintenance that coating a metal would, and it is more of a precaution than a necessity.  Metal surfaces need to be recoated every one to two years in marine applications.  GRP’s UV sealant will protect the material for a substantially longer time.

GRP has a significantly longer service life than metal.  The cost savings are astronomical.  The maintenance requirements are a fraction of that of comparable metal products, saving the end user or customer a great deal of money.  The installation cost of fibreglass products is much lower  than metal due to their light weight properties.

Because GRP products do not corrode the way metal does, they are a much safer alternative. The risk involved with using rust-prone metal or corroded metal is extremely high. This could end up costing your company a great deal of money due to workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and other various cost.

In order to avoid the risk of rust and to save on maintenance costs, use GRP as an alternative to metal.