Overview
Evaluation of "Spot and Sweep" Blasting as a Cost Effective Method of Underwater and Outer Hull Surface Preparation (2011-426)
Project Team:
- BAE Systems SE Shipyards
- Elzly Technology Corporation
- Chariot Robotics
2011
NSRP ASE Investment: $96K
Objective:
The goal of this project was to reduce the Total Ownership Cost of cleaning and painting underwater hulls and freeboards on US Navy ships by leaving intact anti-corrosive on the hull during re-painting. This project examined using commercially available high speed semi-automated robots in conjunction with ultra-high pressure water-jetting (UHPWJ). This process of high speed spot-and-sweep surface preparation is being used now and for the past several years in yards throughout Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Singapore, and the Caribbean. The concept is approximately 5%-10% of the anti-corrosive coating breaks down periodically and therefore it is redundant and unnecessary to completely remove 90%-95% of intact coating to bare metals, as is the current requirement in Standard Item 009-32 each time the coating system is renewed. Demonstrations of the spot-and-sweep technique were conducted using real time dry-dockings of U.S. Navy vessels. In all cases, the spot-and-sweep was deemed a success and could save millions of dollars per year if incorporated as part of routine fleet maintenance.
Key Deliverables:
Final Report – Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited