EDA’s CCNS project tests high potential solutions

The European Defence Agency's Corrosion Control for Navy Ships (CCNS) project has successfully tested and identified solutions with high potential, it was announced on 7 February.

The project considered new approaches and solutions for conditions based maintenance in the face of increasing military requirements for naval vessels, changing environmental regulations, and extended maintenance and repair intervals, all of which put at risk the operational availability and running costs of naval vessels with regards to corrosion and surface protection.

Over the course of the three year project, extensive testing was carried out that produced positive results in the field of sensors and fouling treatment. One sensor, which is now commercialised, offers a promising solution for on-board applications. Interesting results for new faster accelerated ageing tests have also been obtained, showing relevance for real in-service degradation of coatings and corrosion.

The study revealed that the process of data collection is especially challenging in terms of measuring on-board currents. A database including relevant and usable data for modelling of cathodic protection was created. Collection and integration of such data into an improved numerical model will help optimise the systems used by navies of all participating countries.

The project was managed and funded by France (DGA), Germany (WiWEB), Italy (Marina Difensa) and UK (DSTL), and carried out by Institut de la Corrosion (project leader, France) DCNS research (France), Centro Sviluppo Materiali (Italy), CNR-ISMAR (Italy), BAE Systems (UK), University of Southampton (UK) and AISH technologies (UK) with contribution from DGA (France), BWA WIWeB and BWB WTD 71 (Germany).