Tokyo: ClassNK has developed and released the world's first set of standards for the application of corrosion resistant steels to the cargo oil tanks of oil tankers. The new Guidelines on Corrosion Resistant Steel for COT are the first guidelines to lay out clear requirements for the application of the new steels, whose use was approved by the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) earlier this year.
"Corrosion resistant steel was developed by Japanese steel manufacturers specifically to resist the corrosive environment found in cargo oil tanks, and the new steel promises to provide owners and shipyards with a lower cost alternative to coatings. By using corrosion resistant steels, shipyards can reduce the cost of the construction and coating process, and owners can reduce costs from coating maintenance and reapplication," the society said in a statement.
Although the effectiveness of the steels has been proved on vessels in service, and use of this new type of steel was approved by MSC in May, one factor preventing their widespread application has been the lack of clear standards for their application. According to Dr. Yoshiya Yamaguchi, a Manager in the ClassNK Equipment & Material Department who participated in the development of the new steels: "These guidelines fill that gap and make the application of these new steels practical for the entire maritime industry."
ClassNK's new guidelines describe the procedures for application of the new steel in great detail, including area of application, construction work and inspection procedures during construction, as well as the required contents of the technical file. As the new guidelines also cover the requirements for type approval of corrosion resistant steels based on the amendments to SOLAS, the guideline is expected to be of great benefit to steel manufacturers as well.
Dr. Yamaguchi Emphasized the importance of the new guidelines by saying: "With the development of these new steels and these new guidelines for their application, we have a chance to improve tanker safety while at the same time reducing costs for yards and owners. These guidelines are an important technical achievement, and we are confident they will have a positive impact on the entire maritime industry." [22/12/10]
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