Keep corrosion-free at Seawork 2010

Any steel or iron that is exposed to the elements can be protected by the product, which comes in three different grades, each giving longer degrees of protection ranging from one year to forty years. Each of the grades is available as either a paste to be applied by brush or in spray form.

ACW has numerous applications, protecting anything from the simple nut and bolt to large steel structures. One recently discovered use for ACW is the protection of offshore wind turbines. In the interim period between the installation of the monopile on which the turbine sits and eventual activation, there is no protection. A single coat of ACW can be applied to the outside of the monopile to give protection for up to one year, with the duration increased by applying multiple coats.

On the inside, where anodes cannot be fitted due to the danger of a build up of hydrogen in the enclosed space, ACW will give the required protection for up to forty years without any danger. Even with the MIC and weed growth, ACW will prevent the growth forming directly onto the metal surface and prevent any subsequent corrosion. Available in drums of from 2.75L up to 60L, ACW is a cost effective, easy to apply method of protection and is not harmful to the environment.

European Marine will also be showing Propshield, a specifically engineered propeller antifouling for commercial vessels. With its unique formulation utilising biocide free chemicals, Propshield will prevent encrustations, oxidization and electrolysis forming on propellers.

Having clean propellers not only gives a vessel consistent performance, it also gives significant savings on fuel costs.

Propshield is applied by rubbing the compound into the surface of the propeller. This can be done with either a cloth or slow running mop. This process helps Propshield bond to and penetrate the surface of the propeller by 0.01mm. Once this has been applied a top coat is brushed on. The coating will last for at least 12 months.

A recent test of propellers coated in Propshield showed a drop of only 50rpm over an 18 month period, during which the expected drop would have been 300rpm.