Top navy admiral wants rust-free ships

> "An AKE like the Shepard should have 129 crewmembers in perfect conditions but they are now running at roughly 80% because of manning problems,” said another MSC officer. “About 20 in the deck department can be assigned to rust prevent duty. However, that crew is also assigned to Underway Replenishment duties. Three Unreps could easily eat away an entire day. When we return to port can we OSPHO? No. Can I send a crewmember over the side to chip? No. Navy rules prevent it."

Sounds like a classic case of trying to do the same job with less people, and management only taking notice when the issue becomes public-facing.

Re: Top navy admiral wants rust-free ships

#7

Post by Victerius » Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:21 PM UTC

The Navy builds its ships with steel, and the grades of steel used in the construction can experience rust.

Solutions:

Switch to 100% stainless steel. Stainless steel is an alloy and contains a minimum of 11% chromium. This allows the formation of a protective film of chromium oxide which acts as a shield against rust. The protective film will re-form if damaged. Corrosion resistance can be further enhanced with the addition of nickel.

Use a weathering steel, also known as “COR-TEN” steel which contains up to 21% of alloying elements such as chromium, copper, nickel, and phosphorous. The alloys form a protective rust patina which reduces the corrosion rate with time. COR-TEN steel tends to be cheaper than stainless steel.

Galvanized steel. Galvanizing is a method of rust prevention. This is accomplished through hot-dip galvanizing or electroplating. The iron or steel object is coated in a thin layer of zinc. This stops oxygen and water from reaching the metal underneath but the zinc also acts as a sacrificial metal. Zinc is more reactive than iron, so it oxidizes in preference to the iron object. The zinc oxide layer prevents the formation of iron oxide, thus eliminating the possibility of rust forming.

Re: Top navy admiral wants rust-free ships

#8

Post by newsclues » Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:21 PM UTC

I think this is a good lesson that can be applied to offices and data centres.

If you run your teams and equipment beyond the threshold, your equipment and team will suffer and degrade your abilities.

This is a failure of leadership, and it was avoidable!

Re: Top navy admiral wants rust-free ships

#9

Post by red2awn » Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:27 PM UTC

No post body was provided.

Re: Top navy admiral wants rust-free ships

#10

Post by donthellbanme » Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:29 PM UTC

" If crews can’t use new types of paint, If crews are restricted from using OSPHO (a mild acid used to clean up rust stains) in port or bosuns chairs over the side if we don’t have enough supply ships or crew on those supply ships if crews are committing suicide and arson because of conditions at shipyards tasked with painting old ships if the Navy doesn’t seek out the advice of commercial professionals at companies that have solved the problem like Shell if the Army and Air Force continue to get all the attention in Ukraine despite the heaviest fighting taking place in the littorals and ports – I could go on – how can individual sailors “stand up and be ready” to combat rust?"

1. I hope I'm reading this wrong. I can guarantee Sailors arn't committing suicide, or arson, because of a fugly rusty ship.

2. If their is any real problem it's the way our Navy treats Sailors, and lies to them upon signing that contract, and tries to renig on any lofty promises upon signing.

I once heard the Navy will send you to school upon enlisting. Navy, "Become a Lawyer. We pay for it.". This commercial was around that movie with Tom Cruise playing the spiffy lawyer in his whites going up against Jack Nicholson. "You can't handle the truth!". Forget the name.

I looked it up. The military at the time was picking up tuition for 8 enlisted men to go to law school.

The guys are angry because once they enlisted, it wasen't the opportunity they thought it would be. Period.