JFE Steel Supplies New Corrosion Resistance Plate for VLCC

JFE Steel announced on Tuesday the new corrosion resistant steel plate, JFE-Steel for Ship Inside Protection-for Oil Tankers was applied to bottom and upper plate of cargo oil tank of very large crude carrier with 300,000 tonnes of capacity. The new plate can reduce the corrosion for tank bottom to one fifth of traditional material while the plate improves the corrosion resistance for rear side of upper plate of tank. The firm tries to appeal the property for international market by proving the capability. JFE Steel developed the new plate with Mitsui O.S.K Lines after five years research to prove the performance of the new plate through test for actual vessels. The plate has same weldability and formability as traditional material and reduces the maintenance work. Mitsui O.S.K Lines operates the VLCC with the new plate after complete the construction in November. Crude oil carrier’s bottom of tank starts to be damaged by pitting when covered corrosion resistance membrane gets defective. The small hole could increase by maximum 4 millimeters per year, which could hurt the ship body. The rear side of upper plate of tank is damaged by hydrogen sulfide from oil and the damage could reduce ship structural strength. International Maritime Organization tries to improve the corrosion resistance of inner tank by options including obligatory paint. Japanese industry seeks different low cost solutions including development of new steel with better corrosion resistance.