Combating corrosion in the shipbuilding industry
Shipbuilding: controlling humidity to protect painted structures
Shipbuilding is a complex process that takes several months or even years to complete and involves various stages: manufacturing the metal hull, assembling sections, and the fitting it out phase.
Shipbuilding industry: drying compartments during painting phases
In shipbuilding, controlling air humidity is essential, particularly during surface treatment and painting stages. After the metal hull is manufactured in the workshop, the different sections of the vessel are assembled into blocks before the long ‘fitting-out’ phase, during which functional equipment is installed (piping, partitions, glazing, fittings). Painting operations take place during this stage, which is a critical process aimed at protecting the steel and ensuring the vessel’s longevity.
Some areas in the central part of the ship, known as compartments, hold technical fluids (diesel, oil, fresh water, grey water, black water, technical water, etc.). These internal compartments must remain perfectly watertight and corrosion resistant. The paintwork in these spaces is subject to particularly high standards. The steel is first shot-blasted, then several layers of paint are applied following a strict protocol. To ensure the adhesion and performance of the coatings, it is essential to precisely control ambient humidity. Some building stages require rigorous humidity level control, especially during painting operations in sensitive areas of the vessel.
This is the reason why the use of DESSICA industrial dehumidifiers is essential in the lower sections of the ship. Our equipment provides a continuous supply of dry air, reducing the risks of condensation, corrosion, and paint defects. They also help stabilise the indoor climate in enclosed, hard-to-reach areas, ensuring high-quality finishing touches until the vessel’s final delivery.
Ship launching and dehumidification
During ship launching, climate control becomes more complex, as fixed installations can no longer be used. At this stage, DESSICA provides mobile industrial dehumidification solutions. The objective is to ensure dry, stable, and continuous air around the clock in confined and often hard-to-access spaces. Controlling humidity, temperature, and ventilation is essential to preserve the integrity of surface treatments and to prevent defects or rework.
DESSICA provides powerful mobile dehumidifiers, such as 3,500 m³/h units, configured according to the project’s requirements. Initially intended for short-term use, these solutions can be extended until the ship’s delivery. Installation and commissioning are carried out by our teams, working directly with the shipyard and without major technical constraints.
These units integrate seamlessly into post-launch painting processes, providing a controlled environment for critical applications, including in ballast tanks and water tanks, where excessive moisture could compromise coating performance.
The progressive advancement of work in shipyards requires air dehumidifiers to be moved regularly. DESSICA units are designed to meet this need for flexibility. Compact yet powerful (approximately 1.50 m × 1 m × 1.20 m), they are positioned as close as possible to critical areas, whenever the ship’s configuration allows. In some cases, physical constraints such as access hatches smaller than 1 m², require the units to be installed outside or at the periphery, with extended flexible ducts leading to the target area.
The post-paint drying phase is just as critical as the application itself. A few hours of exposure to humidity, particularly in coastal areas, can compromise the integrity of the coating. Dry air is also occasionally required for areas that have already been treated but are reopened during the project. Therefore, responsiveness and continuity of air treatment are essential.
Mobile air dehumidifier hire
DESSICA offers a rental service ideally suited to these short-term and strategic needs in shipyards. The air dehumidifiers provided are fully maintained by our teams throughout the rental period. Filters are supplied, and clients can replace them thanks to a simple and accessible system.
Challenges of climate control in shipyards
In the shipbuilding industry, controlling air humidity is a crucial challenge throughout a ship’s lifecycle. Several technical situations require rigorous humidity level management:
- Maintenance and overhaul of ships
- Preventing corrosion during sandblasting and scraping operations
- Air treatment in large-volume projects
- Boat refits
- Renovation of military vessels: drying under airtight enclosures
- Renovation of pleasure crafts under thermoformed film
Benefits of DESSICA systems in the shipbuilding industry
- Prevent the risk of corrosion and control environmental humidity during painting operations
- Ensure the longevity of coatings
- Improve paint adhesion on surfaces
Recommended products for combating corrosion in the shipbuilding industry Standard air dryer
