Marine Advisory: 13/2020 - Corrosion of distance piece on Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS – Sox scrubber) discharge water line

20 April 2020

Marine Advisory: 13/2020

SUBJECT: Corrosion of distance piece on Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS – Sox scrubber) discharge water line

Dear Shipowner/Operator/Master/Recognized Organizations:

The purpose of this Advisory is to alert you to the recent ClassNK Technical Information TEC1205, “Corrosion of distance piece on SOx scrubber discharge water line”, dated 09 April 2020. ClassNK has recently received several reports of incidents that sea water leakage was detected from distance piece attached to hull on SOx scrubber discharge water line.

Leakages have been detected around welds between distance piece and flange or the bluff body. Distance pieces have been inspected internally and the corrosion has occurred and progressed around the welds, and has finally caused leakages.

The Liberian Administration encourages Owners and Operators and their Masters of vessels fitted with EGCS to consider the recommendations made by ClassNK in their Technical Information bulletin:

1. Instruct vessels with EGCS installed to externally inspect the discharge water lines, especially around the distance pieces on a regular basis.
2. Inspect distance pieces internally when there is an opportunity of arranging a diver for hull cleaning, etc.
3. If any leakage is detected, temporary repairs should be taken immediately (e.g. covering the distance piece with a cement box), and survey by a vessel’s class society surveyor is to be arranged as soon as possible.

The ClassNK Technical Information TEC-1205 can be found at: https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/pdf/tech_info/tech_img/T1205e.pdf.

For more information, please contact the Regulations and Standards Department at RegsandStandards@liscr.com or telephone +1 703 790 3434.

* * * * *