Appendix 1 - Test on Simulated Ballast Tank Conditions

 Test on simulated ballast tank conditions shall satisfy each of the following conditions:

• .1 The test shall be carried out for 180 days.

• .2 There are to be 5 test panels.

• .3 The size of each test panel is 200 mm x 400 mm x 3 mm. Two of the panels (Panel 3 and 4 below) have a U-bar welded. The U-bar is welded to the panel in a 120 mm distance from one of the short sides and 80 mm from each of the long sides.

  The panels are to be treated according to this Standard, table 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, and coating system applied according to table 1, paragraphs 1.4 and 1.5. Shop primer to be weathered for at least 2 months and cleaned by low pressure washing or other mild method. Blast sweep or high pressure washing, or other primer removal methods not to be used. Weathering method and extent shall take into consideration that the primer is to be the foundation for a 15 year target useful life system. To facilitate innovation, alternative preparation, coating systems and dry film thicknesses may be used when clearly defined.

• .4 The reverse side of the test piece shall be painted appropriately, in order not to affect the test results.

• .5 As simulating the condition of actual ballast tank, the test cycle runs for two weeks with natural or artificial seawater and one week empty. The temperature of the seawater is to be kept at about 35°C.

• .6 Test panel 1: This panel is to be heated for 12 h at 50°C and cooled for 12 h at 20°C in order to simulate upper deck condition. The test panel is cyclically splashed with natural or artificial seawater in order to simulate a ship’s pitching and rolling motion. The interval of splashing is 3 s or faster. The panel has a scribe line down to bare steel across width.

• .7 Test panel 2: This panel has a fixed sacrificial zinc anode in order to evaluate the effect of cathodic protection. A circular 8 mm artificial holiday down to bare steel is introduced on the test panel 100 mm from the anode in order to evaluate the effect of the cathodic protection. The test panel is cyclically immersed with natural or artificial seawater.

• .8 Test panel 3: This panel is to be cooled on the reverse side, in order to give a temperature gradient to simulate a cooled bulkhead in a ballast wing tank, and splashed with natural or artificial seawater in order to simulate a ship’s pitching and rolling motion. The gradient of temperature is approximately 20°C, and the interval of splashing is 3 s or faster. The panel has a scribe line down to bare steel across width.

• .9 Test panel 4: This panel is to be cyclically splashed with natural or artificial seawater in order to simulate a ship’s pitching and rolling motion. The interval of splashing is 3 s or faster. The panel has a scribe line down to bare steel across width.

• .10 Test panel 5: This panel is to be exposed to dry heat for 180 days at 70°C to simulate boundary plating between heated bunker tank and ballast tank in double bottom.

Figure 1 Wave tank for testing of ballast tank coatings

  2.1 Prior to the testing, the following measured data of the coating system shall be reported:

• .1 infrared (IR) identification of the base and hardener components of the coating;

• .2 specific gravity^footnote of the base and hardener components of the paint; and

• .3 number of pinholes, low voltage detector at 90 V.

  2.2 After the testing, the followed measured data shall be reported:

• .1 blisters and rust;^footnote

• .2 dry film thickness (DFT) (use of a template);^footnote

• .3 adhesion value;^footnote

• .4 flexibility^footnote modified according to panel thickness (3 mm steel, 300 μm coating, 150 mm cylindrical mandrel gives 2% elongation) for information only;

• .5 cathodic protection weight loss/current demand/disbondment from artificial holiday; and

• .6 undercutting from scribe. The undercutting along both sides of the scribe is measured and the maximum undercutting determined on each panel. The average of the three maximum records is used for the acceptance.

  3.1 The test results based on section 2 shall satisfy the following criteria:

  3.2 Epoxy-based systems tested prior to the date of entry into force of this Standard shall satisfy only the criteria for blistering and rust in the table above.

  3.3 Epoxy-based systems tested when applied according to table 1 of this Standard shall satisfy the criteria for epoxy-based systems as indicated in the table above.

  3.4 Alternative systems not necessarily epoxy-based and/or not necessarily applied according to table 1 of this Standard shall satisfy the criteria for alternative systems as indicated in the table above.

 The test report shall include the following information:

• .1 name of the manufacturer;

• .2 date of tests;

• .3 product name/identification of both paint and primer;

• .4 batch number;

• .5 data of surface preparation on steel panels, including the following:

  • .5.1 surface treatment;

  • .5.2 water soluble salts limit;

  • .5.3 dust; and

  • .5.4 abrasive inclusions;

• .6 application data of coating system, including the following:

  • .6.1 shop primed;

  • .6.2 number of coats;

  • .6.3 recoat interval;^footnote

  • .6.4 dry film thickness (DFT) prior to testing;^footnote

  • .6.5 thinner;^footnote

  • .6.6 humidity;^footnote

  • .6.7 air temperature;^footnote and

  • .6.8 steel temperature;

• .7 test results according to section 2; and

• .8 judgment according to section 3.