MCPS Ltd

MGPS

Our MGPS (Marine Growth Prevention Systems) consist of a copper alloy rod that prevents fouling and an aluminium or ferrous alloy rod which prevents corrosion. Once fitted, an anti-fouling anode requires very little maintenance and has no adverse effects on the marine environment. 

Copper alloy anodes are mostly used to prevent marine growth in pipework strainers, heat exchangers, pumps and box coolers, thus removing a common cause of blockages. MCPS can supply them in various sizes.

Aluminium alloy and ferrous alloy anodes, meanwhile, are typically used in conjunction with copper alloyed anodes to prevent corrosion throughout Cu/Ni pipework. These are also available in a variety of sizes. 

Harbour Anodes

Research has shown that piles used in the construction of jetties and harbours are corroding far more quickly than what is acceptable because of an increase in the presence of sulphur reducing bacteria. This phenomenon has been labelled ‘Accelerated Low Water Corrosion’ (ALWC). ALWC is identified by soft, orange, organic bacteria with a black layer hiding bright, pitted steel. Cathodic Protection (CP) anodes are proven to greatly reduce the corrosion rate in such cases, preserving the life of the pile and mitigating the risk of structural failure, which could potentially cause casualties and inflict a lot of damage on operational equipment and vessels. Find out more about the use of CP anodes by visiting MCPS online.

Hull Anodes

All sorts of coatings are applied to the hulls of vessels in order to protect against the onset of corrosion, yet they are often compromised by microscopic pinhole defects or localised damage typically inflicted whilst the vessel is in service. To help preserve the life of coatings (and thus reduce the exposure of steel to corrosion), it is common to use a hull/flush mounted anode. These are made with alloys of zinc, aluminium or magnesium and can be bolted or welded on. Hull anodes are also often used in areas of the hull local to the propellers or actually on the propellers themselves. Find out more about hull anodes and their uses by visiting MCPS online.

Shaft Earthing

Shafts that are not earthed are known to cause arcing, which in turn can lead to the pitting and stripping of engine bearing surfaces and the creation of hot spots which can result in the ignition of crankcase explosions. By installing shaft earthing equipment as part of the vessel’s Cathodic Protection system, you can prevent static discharges and thus remove the route cause of such damage. If you would like to find out more about our shaft earthing equipment, or would like to discuss your requirements with an expert, please get in touch with MCPS using the contact details provided at the top of this page.

Magnesium Ribbon

Descaling a ship’s ballast tanks requires a lot of manual labour, which can of course be extremely costly. So we recommend the use of a magnesium ribbon instead. It can be easily distributed, it gives an incredibly clean surface, and it avoids the hazards of noise, dust and damage to the structure. Approximately one metre of magnesium ribbon offers enough current density to lift scale from a steel area of around three square metres. When correctly secured in a fully pressed up tank, the ribbon will begin to remove scale within 10-14 days. Find out more about the advantages of using magnesium ribbon for descaling by visiting MCPS online.

Stand Offshore Anodes

There are a number of reasons why aluminium alloys have become the preferred material for stand off/harbour anodes. The first is that they offer high electromechanical efficiency, enabling them to be operated at different temperature co-efficients. Another reason is that they are lighter and easier to handle than zinc anodes, and therefore easier to fit. 

Zinc is of course a well-proven anode material, and its capacity is virtually unaffected by the operating current density. However, the driving voltage tends to diminish with increasing temperature, and it therefore has limited application. 

Find out more about aluminium and zinc stand off/harbour anodes by visiting MCPS online. 

Bracelet Anodes

We offer various sizes of bracelet anode in both half shell and segmented versions. These have a utilisation factor of 0.80, but where they are used to reduce wave loads on steel jackets they have utilisation factor of 0.90. If used on pipelines, anode spacing should not exceed 200m, and the amount should increase by a factor of two for the first 500m from the platforms and subsea installations. Outside diameters will usually coincide with that of the pipe, but if this is not possible the anode will be manufactured with a taper which allows for movement.

Tank Anodes

As is the case with ship hulls, the integrity of a tank’s coating is often compromised by microscopic pinhole defects or localised damage typically inflicted whilst in service. It is therefore recommended to use a tank anode which will complement the coating at areas of exposed steel in order to prolong the life of the structure. MCPS offers zinc, aluminium and magnesium tank anodes with various fixing arrangements. Find out more by visiting MCPS online.

ICCP

Our Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system consists of several anodes, reference electrodes and a transformer/rectifier controller power unit. The type, size and position of these components on the hull is specified according to design parameters that allow not only for the size of the vessel but also for fluctuations in the protection current which are likely to be encountered during sea-going service. More detailed information can be found on the MCPS website.

Engine Anodes

Engine heat exchangers are commonly susceptible to corrosion due to the difference in metal between the casing and the tube stack. However, corrosion can be greatly reduced using a zinc pencil anode. These are designed by MCPS in various sizes to protect a certain distance and surface area. We have zinc anodes for many makes of engine, including Volvo-Penta, BMW, Bukh, Evinrude, OMC, Johnson, Mercruiser-Mercury, Yanmar and Yamaha.