CATHODIC PROTECTION

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 Potential variations in the Hull
• Different areas of Hull of a ship acquire a positive
potential or negative potential due to
a. Dissimilar metals b.
variations in structural and
chemical uniformity in hull plates c. welding
d. Differences in paint thickness and
quality e. Water temperature f. salinity
etc.
• Thus areas either Anodic(Positive) or Cathodic
(Negative) are formed in the Hull.

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 Electro-chemical action on Hull

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 Cathodic Protection System
• Cathodic protection system in ships consist of a number of
protective anodes fitted to the hull at selected places below
the water line and fed with a DC current.
• The amount of DC current supplied is automatically or hand
regulated.
• Reference anodes measure the amount of protection needed
and serves as signal to automatically regulate the protection
current
• The anode current control is regulated by electronic thyristor
control. The current can be 20A – 600A at 8VDC
• The aim of the protection system is to keep the hull cathodic
at all places and prevent natural corrosion of the hull due to
electro-chemical action due to seawater.

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 Reference Anodes
• Reference anodes may be zinc or silver attached but
insulated from the hull.
• The voltage measured between reference anodes
and a fully protected anodes will be for
a. Zinc electrode – 250mV negative to hull b.
Silver electrode - 800 mV positive to hull.
• The control equipment automatically monitors the
reference voltages and decides the size of cur rent
required by the protective anodes.
• Reference anode differs in construction from the
main anodes.

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 Arrangement of Impressed
Cathodic Current Protection Circuit

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 Earth Bonding

• Degree of cathodic protection must be same as for

hull, rudder, propellor and stabiliser fins.
• To ensure the above, all must be bonded together
with earth.
• The rudder stock may be bonded by a flexible wire
braid to the deck.
• Carbon brushes rubbing on the rotating main
propulsion shaft can effectively bond the shaft to the
hull.

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 Maintenance
• Measurements of reference voltage and protective
current must be regularly logged with the ship
operating conditions e.g. location, draught, water
temp etc. as all these conditions affect the anode
currents.
• When drydocked,ensure that the main anodes and
reference electrodes are covered with paper tape to
prevent paint contamination.
• Periodic earth bonding of propulsion shaft to check
the condition of brushes is necessary

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