Cathelco seawater pipework anti-fouling system fitted on Tamar ferry

Cathelco have supplied a seawater pipework anti-fouling system for the Tamar II, a car and passenger ferry operating between Torpoint and Plymouth in the United Kingdom.

The installation will be carried out when the ferry is drydocked for its scheduled 3 year refit at A & P Falmouth Ltd.

Ferries operating in estuaries are particularly vulnerable to mussel fouling in pipework. This occurs when mussel larvae enter seawater pipework systems and attach themselves to surfaces where they grow and multiply. Over a period of time this can cause blockages which restrict the flow of water engines and ancillary services.

The Cathelco system is based on the electrolytic principle and consists of a control panel wired to pairs of anodes which are mounted in the vessel’s seachests. In operation, the copper anode produces ions which are carried by the flow water and create an environment where mussel larvae do not settle. Only very small concentrations of ions, less than 2 parts per billion, are required to prevent settlement.

In the case of vessels with steel pipework, seachests or strainers are fitted with an aluminium anode which produces ions to inhibit corrosion. On the Tamar II which has cupro-nickel pipework, a ferrous anode is installed which helps to maintain a protective oxide layer on the internal surfaces of pipes to suppress corrosion.

Cathelco marine pipework anti-fouling systems have been installed on over 20,000 vessels of every size over a period of 50 years where their effectiveness has been thoroughly proven.

The systems significantly reduce maintenance costs by avoiding the need for premature pipework renewal, whilst also ensuring that engine cooling systems are free from blockages which can cause overheating and increase fuel usage.

In recent years, the company has developed a range of compact control panels and anodes which are ideally suited to the requirements of smaller vessels where space in the engine room is at a premium.