Preparation and Coating of Shipboard Steel Surfaces

Vocabulary flashcards covering shipboard steel surface preparation, corrosion mechanisms, cathodic protection, painting systems, surface prep tools, and safety regulations based on lecture notes.

STCW

Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping; international maritime training and watchkeeping standards established by the IMO.

IMO Conventions

International treaty agreements between maritime nations that govern ship safety and environmental protection, distinct from domestic laws or best practices.

Ferro-hydroxide

Rust; the compound formed when uncoated steel is exposed to salt water and oxygen, leading to material wastage and weakening of structural steel.

Anode

The positive area in an electrochemical reaction where corrosion actively takes place.

Cathode

The negative area in an electrochemical corrosion reaction that receives electric current and resists corrosion.

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP)

An active corrosion prevention system that applies an electrical current powered by ship generators through the seawater to protect the hull substrate.

Sacrificial Anodes

Passive protection blocks made of zinc or aluminum welded to a vessel's hull that corrode in place of the steel; they typically last $1$ to $5\text{ years}$.

Noble Metals

Metals resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist air due to their chemical stability, such as gold, silver, and platinum.

Base Metals

Inexpensive, common metals that oxidize and corrode easily when exposed to moisture and oxygen, such as iron, nickel, copper, lead, and zinc.

Pencil Zinc

A small cylindrical zinc anode plug threaded into machinery seawater systems to prevent internal galvanic corrosion.

Shaft Zinc

A circular collar-style zinc anode fitted directly around a vessel's propeller shaft to protect underwater running gear from corrosion.

Hard Fouling

Marine organism growth on underwater surfaces consisting of hard shell structures, such as barnacles, gooseneck barnacles, hydroids, mollusks, and tube worms.

Soft Fouling

Plant-based marine growth, including algae and slime, that attaches near the vessel's waterline where sunlight penetrates.

Self-Polishing Paint

An anti-fouling hull paint whose outer layer slowly dissolves as the vessel moves through water, constantly exposing fresh biocide to prevent growth.

Fouling Release Paint

A non-stick underwater coating with a surface smooth enough that marine organisms detach automatically when vessel speeds exceed $5\text{ knots}$.

Pigment

The solid particulate powder mixed into paint that supplies color and specific protective properties.

Binder

The liquid glue portion of paint (such as alkyd resin or linseed oil) that binds pigment particles together and adheres the film to the substrate.

Vehicle

The solvent or thinner component (such as terpenes or polyamines) added to paint to lower its viscosity for application.

Japan Dryer

An oxidizing additive used in older oil-based paints or varnishes to speed drying through an exothermic chemical reaction.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Carbon-containing chemical compounds found in paints and thinners that easily evaporate into volatile gases and are regulated under MARPOL.

Paint Schedule

A systematic listing or spreadsheet provided for a vessel specifying the exact coating systems, serial numbers, and color schemes for each compartment and surface.

Ospho

A liquid pretreatment coating containing phosphoric acid that reacts with rust (iron(II) oxide) to convert it into a stable layer of iron(III) oxide.

Tooth

A microscopic, rough texture produced by dry primer coats that mechanically increases surface area to improve topcoat adhesion.

Holiday

A maritime term referring to an unintended area or spot missed during surface preparation, chipping, or painting.

Nonskid Paint

A specialized deck paint formulated with sharp silicate aggregate embedded in a silicone or alkyd base to provide foot traction.

Chemically Curing Paint

A multi-component paint system (such as two-part epoxy or $4:1$ polyurethane) that hardens irreversibly through an internal chemical reaction rather than evaporation.

Pot Life

The working time available after mixing a multi-part chemically curing paint before the mixture hardens and becomes unusable.

Boot-topping

The high-wear exterior hull area located around the waterline (wind and water strake) that requires tough, impact-resistant paint due to constant exposure to air, water, and fenders.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

A formal chemical safety document outlining potential hazards, ingredient composition, first aid, firefighting measures, PPE, and handling practices for a specific product.

Organic Vapor Respirator

A protective mask equipped with specialized chemical cartridges designed to filter out harmful airborne solvent fumes and VOCs during painting.

Chipping Hammer

A pointed hand tool used to manually crack, fracture, and knock away thick rust scale and paint buildup from steel surfaces.

Hurdy Gurdy

A rotary chipping tool with high-speed revolving blades or chisels used to rapidly strip thick rust and heavy scale off steel plates.

Pneumatic Needle Gun

A powered scaling tool that uses a cluster of spring-loaded steel rods driven by compressed air to break rust and scale out of irregular structural surfaces.

Pneumatic Piston Scaler

A heavy air-powered scaling hammer, also called a 'knuckle buster,' equipped with reciprocating pistons to shatter dense rust scale on large steel decks.

Wire Cup Brush

A cup-shaped rotary power tool attachment made of stiff steel wire bristles, used for fine surface cleaning, clearing light rust, and polishing steel prior to painting.

Soft fouling

Algae growing on the hull.

Cathodic Protection System / ICCP

System which pushes electric current through the hull to counteract Corrosion.

Anode

Sacrificial metallic additions which limit corrosion of ship structure.

Anti-fouling paint

Underwater coating which minimizes hull growth.

Coating failure

A failure whose possible results include corrosion, rusting, and staining, but NOT explosion.

Hard fouling

Type of hull growth that can include mussels, barnacles, and tube worms.

MARPOL

The IMO convention that concerns disposal of paint products.

IMO conventions

Treaty Agreements.

Paint

Protects the hull by isolating the substrate (usually steel) from the Marine Environment.

CPS/ICCP and Anodes

ICCP can be used with anodes to improve the ship's ability to resist corrosion in areas where paint fails or cannot be applied.

Hull fouling minimization

Keeping the vessel moving as fast as possible and as often as possible to help minimize hull fouling.

Location of marine growth

Occurs mostly on the exterior of the vessel.