Marine & Offshore

In the context of industrial brakes, Marine & Offshore describes an application environment characterized by extreme and persistent corrosive attack, high humidity, direct exposure to saltwater, wide temperature fluctuations, and often, the presence of hazardous or explosive atmospheres. A brake specified for Marine & Offshore duty is not a standard brake; it is a highly specialized piece of equipment where long-term reliability and safety in these conditions are the primary design drivers.

The key engineering adaptations and features required for a brake to be certified for Marine & Offshore use include:

1. Extreme Corrosion Resistance: This is the most fundamental requirement. It is achieved through a multi-layered defense strategy:
   • Material Selection: Extensive use of corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel for all critical components, including pins, fasteners, linkages, and pistons. Bronze is also used for certain components.
   • Advanced Coatings: Application of specialized, multi-layer marine-grade paint systems (often epoxy-based and certified to standards like ISO 12944 C5-M) to all cast and fabricated steel parts. This provides a durable barrier against saltwater and atmospheric corrosion.
   • Component Plating: Critical internal and external components are often specially plated (e.g., with zinc-nickel alloys or chrome) for an additional layer of protection.
2. High Ingress Protection (IP Rating): The brake’s electrical and mechanical components must be completely sealed against the ingress of water and dust. This is designated by a high IP rating, typically IP66 or IP67. The enclosure for the electromagnetic coil, thruster, or terminal box is designed to be completely watertight, even against powerful jets of water or temporary submersion.
3. Explosion-Proof Certification: Many offshore applications, particularly on oil rigs, FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading units), and tankers, are classified as hazardous locations due to the presence of flammable gases. In these cases, the brake must also be certified as Explosion-Proof according to international standards like ATEX and IECEx.
4. Third-Party Marine Certification: For critical systems, the brake and its performance must be approved by a recognized marine classification society. This involves a rigorous design review, material traceability, and witnessed testing to the standards of bodies like DNV (Det Norske Veritas), ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), or Lloyd’s Register. This is the ultimate proof of the brake’s suitability for the application.

These brakes are essential for the safe operation of a wide range of equipment in this sector, including anchor handling winches, mooring winches, offshore cranes, drawworks, pipe and cable tensioners, and davits. Failure in this environment is not an option, so every component is engineered with the highest possible safety and durability factors.