Keep an eye on corrosion in control rooms, says Cortec

Cortec is calling on shipowners to pay more attention to damp corrosion in vessel control rooms.

In engine rooms, where the risk of corrosion is well understood, ventilation systems are overbuilt to protect against fire risk, and components are heavily marinised and well-insulated to protect against rust.

But in contrast to this, control rooms, which house monitors, dials, and electrical components encased in metal housings, are often neglected, Cortec believes. While ventilated, these receive periodic bursts of warm, damp, salty marine air when engineering staff come in from the hot, humid engine room.

“If electrical contacts, wires, or sensors within these systems were to corrode, they would require replacement at best or create serious malfunctions at worst. Moreover, many of these digital controls and panels have a high price tag for replacement, making prevention the best cure,” said Cortec.

A solution for this is a Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI) Emitter, which evaporates and forms a protective layer on wires and metal contacts. Another option is Cortec’s ElectriCorr VpCI-239, a spray that operates through the same mechanism. “These measures do not need to be heroic, but can be simple and non-invasive,” Cortec said.