Introduction
Corrosion is a major cause of marine structural failures. Corrosion
results in loss of structural strength at local and global levels, and
leads to fatigue failure and stress corrosion cracking. Some recent
marine incidents with tankers have been directly linked to accelerated
corrosion [7]. Localized corrosion is among the major types of physical
defects found largely on ship structures. The areas of the ship most
susceptible to corrosion are the ballast tanks owing to the intense
contact with seawater on both the sides, humidity, and the chloride-rich
environment, even when empty. Because of the double hull configuration
required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 [6–9], ballast tanks are
difficult to maintain.
The access is limited and the environment is unfriendly, the light is
scarce, large parts are hard to reach, and the cost of decent
maintenance is towering high, mainly because the working conditions are
troublesome. In short, double hull ballast tanks act as the Achilles’
heel of the ship.
The introduction of the double hull tankers in the nineties relocated
all the structural elements from the cargo into the ballast tanks [7].
This configuration aggravates the corrosion problem on board. The
quantity of corrosion in ballast tanks is therefore a decisive factor
for ending the economic life of the ship and sending her to the scrap
yard [10].
Today, ship’s ballast tanks are constructed in grade A steel and
protected with a standard epoxy coating and sacrificial zinc anodes at
some locations. These serve to reduce and in some instances effectively
defer corrosion and mitigate corrosion consequences [5]. Such a
construction has been applied without significant alterations for
decades. However, the goal of this study is to compare this traditional
approach with some feasible alternatives through an analysis of the
total cost, restricted to construction, exploitation and maintenance of
the ballast tanks, hereinafter called total cost of ballast tanks (TCB).
As such, the impact of any structural investments can be investigated
in the conceptual stage of the vessel. Important elements in such an
analysis are the design of the tank and the selection of appropriate
construction, equipment and protection material.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.4 Significance of the Study
1.5 Research Questions
1.6 Delimitations of the Study
1.7 Limitation of the study
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.0 Review of Related Literature
2.2 Empirical Studies
2.3 Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Area of the Study
3.3 Research Design
3.4 Population of the Study
3.5 Sample and Sampling Technique
3.6 Research Instrument
3.7 Validation of the Instrument
3.8 Data Collection Technique
3.9 Data Analysis Technique
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS
AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Data Presentation
4.3 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.1 Restatement of the Problem
5.2 Summary of Findings
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
5.5 Suggestions for Further Research
References
Appendix