Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation of Ballast Tank Coatings Integrity for Life Prediction and Condition Based Maintenance

Abstract : Navy maintenance costs for seawater ballast tank preservation continue to increase, concurrent with a corresponding growth in the time interval between overhaul cycles. To reduce the high cost of manned seawater ballast tank inspections, corrosion potential and current sensors have been developed to monitor changes in the tank cathodic protection levels and zinc anode current requirements over time. When combined with remote optical inspection capability, currently under development, a comprehensive monitoring program will be established. This will provide for in-situ long-term monitoring of tank corrosion combined with periodic visual inspections to document tank coating condition. The goal of this effort is to provide a tank husbandry program for direct monitoring, identification, and ranking of individual tanks in terms of condition, maintenance or overhaul requirements, without the need for costly periodic manned inspections.