A brief survey of the procedure of hull corrosion and biofouling prevention technique in Eritrea and its effecton environment due to biofouling and improper way of biofouling prevention technique applied here

Abstract

Corrosion is the gradual deterioration of material or its properties through a chemical reaction with the environment. Biofouling takes place in underwater ship hull. Micro-organism, vegetable and animal matter naturally attach to a ship’s hull If marine biofouling is not dealt with correctly, the accumulated fouling poses a risk of transferring invasive, non-indigenous marine species (NIS or NIMS) around the world with consequent damaging effects to local marine life and a reduction of biodiversity. One of the key means of NIMS is the badly fouled hulls of ships. In this research paper we are concerned with the hull corrosion prevention technique in Eritrea and its effect on the environment due to improper way of biofouling prevention and cleaning technique. This research paper is mainly taken in two places with the aid of internet the two places are Massawa ship yard and Massawa port. These are the places where more corroded hull and biofouling found. We have asked questions to the person working on board ship and various other persons working in port and Massawa Ship yard to know the technique applied to prevent biofouling and hull corrosion prevention technique. From the research paper we concluded that Corrosion inhibitors are substances that can be added to ship hull which decrease the rate of attack of that environment on a material such as metal. They can help extend the life of equipment, prevent system shutdowns and failures, avoid product contamination, prevent loss of heat transfer, and preserve an attractive appearance of structures. New types of paints mostly made of zinc/silicon which lasts long and minimize the corrosion of the steel can be used to prevent corrosion. In addition we can control corrosion by giving coatings on top of the paint. Polymers that are most successfully used for corrosion protective coatings are epoxy based materials; polyurethane based polymers, urethane topcoats over epoxy primers, some cross linked polyester materials, and some melamine cross linked polymers.Great precautions are not taken to protect a port from an invasive, non indigenous species if this entails widespread pollution of that port through heavy metals and a variety of toxic herbicides and pesticides. Other than we can give (Rubber coating) the small boats and yachts which generally made of fiberglass. For protection of the hull of the ship we can clean it at regular interval of time we can give zinc plating of the side of the hull of the ship made of steel to prevent corrosion and fouling taking place which are reasons for lose of steel thickness and ship’s speed. We can use tin free self polishing copolymer (SPC) which is basically designed to be smooth and rough so the biofouling seagrowth will be released from the hull rather than stick to it, and also will be easily cleaned. Compared to other countries the way of our hull corrosion and biofouling prevention technique is inadequate for the existence of our vessel. However improvement of preventing technique should be made rather than currently used for our vessel.