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Researching rust at sea
Photo: Ziegeler/NPorts
Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts) is investigating how harbour environments affect the lifespan of steel sheet pile walls. As part of the federally funded 'Nimbus' research project, the port operator is working with the Fraunhofer Institute for operational durability and system reliability (LBF) and Helmut Müller GmbH to analyse corrosion processes at North Sea and Baltic Sea ports. Samples of water and steel are being collected at sites in Emden, Cuxhaven, Brake, Wilhelmshaven, Stade, Norddeich, Bensersiel and Rostock.
According to NPorts the data gathered will help determine how factors such as pH levels and oxygen content influence corrosion speed and type. Using empirical models, the results aims to enable more accurate predictions of remaining service life. NPorts manages around 28 km of quays and 12 km of waterfront sheet piling, much of which faces reduced durability due to corrosion according to the company. (js)