Shipbuilding & Offshore Platforms

Seawater is the harshest natural electrolyte: roughly 19,000 ppm chloride plus wet-dry cycles and crevices. Here the first criterion is not strength — it is whether the material survives crevice corrosion.

Describe Your Application View Products

Typical Parts & Material Selection

Part	Grade	Surface / Size	Watch Out For
Deck Railings / Fittings	316L	Tube / Section, Polished	Salt-spray corrosion, post-weld passivation
Seawater Pipes	2205 / 6Mo	Seamless / Welded Tube	Pitting, flow-accelerated corrosion
LNG Tank Inner Shell	304L / 304	8–50 mm Plate	Low-temperature toughness, class approval
Accommodation / Galley Fittings	304 / 316L	8–2 mm, 2B/HL	Cleanability, fingerprint resistance
Fasteners / Mounting	316 / 2205	Rod / Forgings	Chloride stress corrosion cracking

These are the usual configurations.Actual selection depends on medium, temperature and welding method— the same part may move from 304 to 316L or 2205. Describing your operating conditions is more useful than naming a grade.

Three Real Constraints in This Industry

Crevice corrosion is the dominant failure mode

Under gaskets and at support-to-hull contact points, 304 shows rust within months. Design for crevice drainage (continuous welds, drain holes) and upgrade to 316L or 2205.

Confirm grade approval early

DNV / ABS / LR / CCS each maintain their own approved material lists. The better grade still fails inspection if unapproved — check at the quotation stage.

Weld distortion accumulates until assembly

Thin fitting parts warp and errors stack up at final assembly. Pre-fabricate as sections using anti-distortion jigs and leave trim allowance.