Corrosion in marine and offshore steel structures: Classification and overview

Abstract

Marine services and industry have emerged as one of the most significant pillars of global economic growth. Corrosion of materials, on the other hand, is still the most important issue for marine structures and equipment. Corrosion is a major contributor to the degradation of marine and offshore structures. It has an effect on the life of process equipment, and might lead to structural failure, leakage, product degradation, contamination, and even death. It is important to investigate the mechanisms of material corrosion in the marine environment, as well as corrosion prevention methods, in order to make effective use of marine resources. Various mitigation techniques, like the utilization of coatings, cathodic protection, and corrosion allowance are utilized to protect offshore structures against corrosion. In general, the marine environment has a significant impact on the protection of offshore structures. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to give an overview about corrosion of marine structures, how it happens and some of the current prevention techniques.