In Service Deterioration

Question 1

Fouling

Answer 1

This covers both marine growth building up on the structure and debris collecting on and around it.

Fouling may cause structural damage, galvanic corrosion (see section 8), overloading of the CP system or cause safety hazards to divers and ROV’s.

Question 2

Coating damage

Answer 2

All types of coatings; paint, bituminous, epoxy and metallic may suffer from defects caused either when they were applied or subsequently because of deterioration or accidental damage

Question 3

Cracks

Answer 3

These may be caused by latent flaws initiated during any of the earlier stages in the life of the platform. They are most often associated with welded joints, especially on nodal areas and cracking may be the end result of a defect initiated at the fabrication stage.

Question 4

Corrosion

Answer 4

An important form of structural deterioration

Question 5

Physical damage

Answer 5

Physical damage This form of deterioration is generally caused by either collision or impact damage caused by components being dropped. As mentioned earlier, all accidental damage, indeed any incident, should be reported immediately so that it can be assessed.