DEVELOPMENT OF A REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF BALLAST TANK COATINGS INTEGRITY FOR U.S. NAVY HULLS

摘要

While the costs associated with seawater ballast tank preservation continue to rise, there is a corresponding trend to increase the interval between overhaul maintenance cycles. To offset many of the high costs associated with tank inspections and corrosion control, a condition based maintenance (CBM) system has been developed to facilitate long term planning, ship husbandry and coatings performance monitoring. This system provides a two-fold information database, utilizing telemetry from both remote in-situ tank monitoring sensors and from a portable insertable inspection vehicle. The in-situ tank sensor is capable of monitoring long-term changes in coatings performance, cathodic protection levels and zinc anode current requirements over time. When combined with the remote optical inspection capability, a comprehensive tank husbandry program can be established, which integrates electrochemical data with visual spectral information. Individual tank coatings conditions can be documented, evaluated, and ranked relative to other tanks throughout the maintenance life-cycle. The system will provide a quantitative decision making process for port engineers and maintenance personnel to support the scheduling, maintenance and overhaul of multiple tanks, without the need for costly periodic manned inspections.