During 2011, severe galvanic corrosion was detected on board the USS Independence. The corrosion was found around the water jets in an area in which the complex geometry of the water jet assemblies and tunnels made sufficient insulation of the aluminum hull from the steel water jet assembly difficult. The galvanic corrosion was concentrated in small areas in the water jet tunnels and water jet cone assemblies and in the transition area between the two. The solution was the installation of an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection System. Also, "additional sacrificial protection design" will be applied to USS Independence during its Post Shakedown Availability, and on future ships of class prior to delivery. The cost of repairs to the USS Independence was estimated at $3.2 million. The cost of the protective equipment is about $250,000 for each future ship of class.
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