An overview of marine corrosion protection with a focus on cathodic protection and coatings

Corrosion is the gradual deterioration of a material or its properties through a chemical reaction with its environment. There are several methods of preventing a material from corroding. Cathodic protection (CP) and coatings are very popular methods for corrosion protection. Each individual method has its own benefits and drawbacks, whereas experience has shown that the most effective method of corrosion prevention is a combination of both CP and coatings. This combination can provide very good protection over a long period of time. This paper focuses on the combined use of both CP and coatings for ships. Calculation of a CP design is explained briefly and the factors affecting the choice of the type of CP system are demonstrated. Then, a sample anode plan of a ship is shown. Finally, the calculation of a cathodic protection system of a ship is presented using data provided by coating manufacturers and shipyards