Marinisation

Marinisation (also marinization) is design, redesign, or testing of products specifically for use and long-term survival in the harsh marine environment. This is done by many manufacturing industries worldwide including many military organisations (especially navies). The main challenge is for the engineers who design the product from the scratch. Every part needs to be designed in order to fit to the marine environment and then to resist its "natural attacks".

There are three main factors that need to be considered for a product to be truly marinised.

These three factors are a constant in the marine environment, and are present even on a dead calm day. These factors apply also in fresh water.

Examples

Electronics

Marinised electronics use one or more of the following protection methods. In most cases more than one method is used:

  • Coating by a spray or dipping to protect from salt air and water
  • Full encapsulation in some form of resin or gel
  • Specialised mounting of internal parts for vibration protection
  • Use of specialised corrosion resistant solder and corrosion resistant metals

Metals

Marinised metals include some of the following examples:

  • Metals made up of alloys that do not corrode or resist corrosion, e.g. 316 marine grade stainless steel
  • Metals electroplated or dipped in a corrosion-resistant material, e.g. galvanised steel
  • Metals painted with special anti rust or anti corrosion coatings
  • Naturally resistant metals such as brass are considered marinised if manufactured to a high quality without impurities that corrode.
  • Plastic coated metals

Batteries

Marinised batteries are usually gel batteries or sealed maintenance-free batteries. Not using marinised batteries in salt water can be deadly in an enclosed environment for many reasons:

  1. Sulfuric acid and salt water react to generate dangerous hydrogen chloride gas, necessitating the use of valve-regulated maintenance-free sealed batteries.
  2. The battery must have stronger plates and separators to withstand constant vibrations and impacts caused by large waves striking the hull. Plate collapse can cause short-circuits and electrical fires or explosions.
  3. A marine battery must function at any angle due to the changing attitude of the vessel it is mounted in. Gel VRLA batteries are best for this purpose.

See also


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