Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning sets stage to better corrosion protection decision making processes in naval and offshore assets

Digitalization technologies, such as loT (Internet of Things) sensors and predictive analytics, are being integrated into marine corrosion mitigating systems to monitor performance in real-time and predict maintenance requirements

Corrosion is a major problem for naval and offshore platforms due to the prevalent harsh marine environment.
Corrosion occurs in three corrosive zones on the platform: the atmospheric zone (above water), the splash zone (tidal), and the subsea zone (underwater and sea bottom). Corrosion also occur on naval vehicles and structures due to the continuous or intermittent exposure to seawater or moisture in the air.

"Approximately 40% of annual demand for steel worldwide is used to replace products that have failed," said Mr Prashant T. Rojatkar, Outstanding Scientist and Director, Naval Materials Research Laboratory, DRDO, Government of India, while recently speaking at the Technical Workshop on Advance Corrosion Control Technologies for Naval Platforms on the occasion of the World Corrosion Awareness Day at their premises in Ambernath, near Mumbai. "If we calculate the figures, this means, five tons of steel disintegrate daily and mainly due to corrosion.

Also, 25% of the budget kept for maintenance is spent on managing corrosion. A lot of this can be saved if we can extend the service life of the assets." This percentage is expected to increase, and extending the lifespan of steel in products could also help reduce demand and carbon dioxide emissions from steel production.

With reference to naval and offshore platforms, it has long been recognized that seawater is the most corrosive natural environment towards engineering materials, particularly many metals and alloys. Seawater is a complex mixture of chemical, physical and biological species whose characteristics can be influenced by geography, temperature, depth and ocean currents. "With our vast coastline and the large Indian Ocean around us, we face many issues. Whatever has been done, there is always something more that has to be done!" said Dr Y. Srinivas Rao, Distinguished Scientist, Director General, Naval Systems & Materials (NS&M), Government of India.