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Advanced Document SearchSuperior chloride removal, extended coating life and ability to work near sensitive equipment are just a few of the features that make Sponge-Jet technology indispensable to the US NAVY and many of the largest ship owners and builders worldwide.
Sponge Blasting with composite abrasive removes chlorides and tough marine coatings, leaving the surface cleaner, more consistent (higher quality) than other surface preparation methods.
This unique ice breaking tanker and winner of “Ship of the Year” used Sponge-Jet Silver 30 Sponge Media™ to prepare erection and fit out welds. The owner demanded 100% sponge blasting of the welds. Ship inspection five-years later proved positive (unlike other ships) with virtually no corrosion anywhere on the ship.
Prior to the use of Sponge Media™ abrasive blasting, these difficult areas were maintained with power tools and constantly being repainted. The short life of power tool prepared coatings drove significant costs and a need for constant maintenance. Sponge-Jet now allows proper preparation and long-term coating life in these challenging machinery spaces.
Confined spaces, especially on board ships, offer unique challenges for proper ventilation and access during blasting operations. While some ventilation is still required during Sponge Blasting in these areas, the 98% reduction of dust allows for simple, safer staging of these projects.
Few areas challenge coatings more than here – a combination of high-speed turbulence near the propeller, dis-similar alloys, weld seams & cathodic protection all create challenges to a coating system. Sponge-Jet not only provides a superior surface for coating but allows others to work on the propulsion system at the same time.
Examples of areas often left with less than an ideal coating system. Composite abrasive blasting with Sponge-Jet allows superior preparation after block construction or as part of a ship maintenance, without ricochet damage to adjacent surfaces. Additionally, dust during blasting can be controlled with simple portable negative air ventilators rather than large extraction ducts running outside the ship.
Proper ventilation of large confined spaces with limited access from 15m (50ft) above used to make cargo holds a challenge. Now multiple blasters along with inspectors and even painters can all operate simultaneously with less staging and ventilation challenges than in the past.
When the fairing compound separates from its steel hull, the super yacht owner understandably has no interest in having the hull sandblasted - putting dust throughout this prized possession. Sponge-Jet’s MicroContainment™ technology limits the dust so that conventional marine shrink-wrap separating the hull from the deck can be used as containment – and repairs can be made quickly and reliably.
Normally it is difficult to abrasive blast inside construction halls while other trades are still fitting out a ship. However, with composite Sponge Media™ abrasives this is a standard procedure – from Australia to USA to Germany. Small barges, aluminum ferries or the largest cruise ships, the choice for blasting in construction halls without interruption of construction – is Sponge Blasting.
Many shipyard blasting projects are staged such that one shift blasts, another crew cleans up followed by inspection. By Sponge Blasting all work can operate concurrently, reducing the time-line, supervision requirements and overall costs. With Sponge-Jet a hardworking three-man crew can support two blasters and one other cleaning and recycling simultaneously.
In dock, during construction or underway, Sponge-Jet technology is used on-board for surface preparation prior to coating ship decks, stairs, accommodations and process piping. Sponge Media™ abrasives are recyclable and therefore require less material to dispose, transport and haul to/from the site. The process also greatly suppresses dust which protects sensitive equipment and nearby local environment.
Yachts, ferries, cruise ships, military vessels, FPSOs and commercial ships of every type need longevity from their coating systems. Over 75% of coating performance can be attributed to surface preparation. Sponge-Jets has a track record of adoption and use in every marine segment, year after year.
Case history about Sponge-Jet replacing hand tools on sidewall and catwalk restoration of USS Carter…
DownloadThis blaster is conducting confined space, low dust abrasive blasting in a ship’s ballast tank…
View VideoSponge-Jet’s low dust abrasive blasting technology is widely used in the marine industry by mi…
View VideoPDF magazine article describes modern marine coating’s higher anchor profile requirements and the …
DownloadBoth Freshwater and Saltwater vessels see all sorts of contaminants and corrosion throughout their service life. Corrosion can threaten everything on ships, from power gen and water storage tanks, to their general structural integrity. In order to overcome these threats, proper surface preparation is key.
Read More >Pipelines are crucial for transporting clean water from treatment plants to cities, businesses, and homes. By maintaining a closed piping system from the source to the faucet, water utilities reduce the risk of water contamination. During the manufacturing of these pipes, proper surface prep must be completed to ensure that they maintain their integrity after coating and installation.
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