Integrity, inspection and corrosion specialist, iicorr is about to complete its fourth set of high-tech anti-corrosion equipment for massive new Royal Navy submarines and is targeting further similar work in the Far East and Europe.

The ICCP (Impressed Current Cathodic Protection) systems for the Royal Navy’s Astute class nuclear powered submarines – which are 97m in length, wider than four London buses and more complex than the space shuttle - were custom-built and supplied by Subspection, a division of Aberdeen-based iicorr, in a deal worth a six-figure sum.

The hull-mounted components of the ICCP system are anodes and reference electrodes that are manufactured from platinised-titanium and silver/silver-chloride respectively. The anodes enable electrical currents to dissipate over the hull to prevent any corrosion occurring whilst the electrodes monitor the hull potential for corrosion. They are integrated with a power unit whose function is to monitor and control the amount of current required to maintain a corrosion free hull.

The power unit was supplied for the submarine manufacturer BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, via a sub-contractor.

As the submarines will be patrolling global waters, the hull equipment had to be built to withstand high pressure and size was also a factor to maintain the streamlined contours of the hull.

Subspection Ltd was acquired by iicorr last year (2008) and the combined expertise of the two companies resulted in a new business division in iicorr, creating an industry-leading organisation specialising in subsea technical integrity and corrosion solutions.
As well as systems for the Astute class submarines, Subspection Ltd has also supplied ICCP systems for the Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers.

Gordon McKinnell, General Manager at Subspection, said: “The Astute class submarines are among the largest and most advanced in the world so this is an extremely prestigious and significant piece of work for Subspection and iicorr. We hope that our success with this particular contract will help reinforce our reputation in the global market for cathodic protection and win further business.’’

Subspection Ltd, based in Alresford, UK, and Singapore employs 30 people and is a provider of cathodic protection survey, consultancy, engineering and subsea sensor equipment to the oil and gas and marine industries. The company was integrated into iicorr’s new cathodic protection services division and has been aiding iicorr’s expansion internationally in the area of subsea technical integrity.

iicorr is a specialist in integrity, inspection and corrosion, providing consultancy, management, engineering and operational support in the oil and gas, process, utilities and marine industry sectors. The company employs over 200 people and has offices in Aberdeen, Houston, Baku, Kuala Lumpur, Perth and Benelux.