Project Leader: Dr Peter Wright
Contact: p.n.h.wright@ncl.ac.uk
Sponsors: Knowledge Transfer Partnership
The aims of the Design to Increase Structural PROtection (DISPRO) project can be summarised by reducing the complexity of ballast tank design to provide the following benefits: reduced man-hours; improved productivity in shipyards; reduced repair hours; improved turnaround in dry-dock; increased coating life, and hence reduce the operation cost to the owner.
Naval Architects have long been accustomed to designing vessels to meet operational and production requirements. However the concept of design to prevent corrosion is a new one, in fact there is often a tendency to create corrosion problems as a by product of design, for example:
Creating complex geometries that are difficult to prepare and coat and result in many edges that can corrode.
Creating tight spaces that are difficult to access and ventilate/de-humidify.
Creating tight spaces that cannot easily be coated using an airless spray gun but require build up coats to be applied by brush and roller.
Creating spaces that are subsequently difficult to repair and maintain;
Having flat spaces with no camber or rise of floor to assist with drainage.
Use of dissimilar metals.
Poorly designing outfit items for installation, resulting in corrosion traps.
The project is funded by the Knowledge Transfer Partnership, KTP is a UK-wide programme funded by 18 organisations and headed by the technology Strategy Board, a business-led, executive non-departmental public body.
In addition to this the project is supported by a number of industrial partners:
Safinah Ltd – a Morpeth based marine coatings consultancy;
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) – one of the worlds leading classification societies;
Jotun Paints – one of the leading suppliers of protective and decorative coatings;
IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine – a ship builder based in Holland specialising in Dredgers and offshore supply vessels;
Muehlhan International AG – a world leading surface preparation and paint application contractor.
Dr Peter Wright
Senior Lecturer
Darren Broderick
KTP Associate