scope:

These Guidance Notes define the best practice and design recommendations for corrosion protection of offshore structures using cathodic protection (CP) systems, and provide guidelines for cathodic protection design, installation, and maintenance. The basic approach to the cathodic protection design of the offshore structures is to combine cathodic protection with an effective coating system for the underwater surfaces to be protected. These Guidance Notes can be applied to both coated and bare submerged surfaces.

These Guidance Notes mainly cover the cathodic protection of the submerged external surfaces of floating offshore structures, such as barges, jack-ups, semi-submersible platforms, storage tankers, and buoys, which are static during their normal operating condition. Fixed platforms and concrete platforms are not covered in this document.

These Guidance Notes cover the submerged areas of appurtenances and openings, mooring lines attached to the structure, sea chests and water intakes up to the first valve. The internal surfaces of flooded compartments/ballast tanks are also considered.

These Guidance Notes do not cover the cathodic protection of ships, pipelines, subsea casings, subsea manifolds/flow lines/jumpers/umbilicals, risers and cables. The cathodic protection of ships is covered by the ABS Guidance Notes on Cathodic Protection of Ships.

These Guidance Notes do not cover corrosion control of the internal portions of wells, piping, and associated equipment that may be installed on or attached to structures. Underwater pipelines and pipeline risers are specifically excluded from these Guidance Notes.

These Guidance Notes do not cover safety and environmental protection aspects associated with cathodic protection. The relevant national or international regulations should apply.