Cross-deck walkways are often made of steel plates, but these can be corroded by seawater or chemicals carried as cargo. Although the upper surface of these plates is usually well-painted, the underside is frequently overlooked or inaccessible for painting, allowing undetected corrosion to develop until failure occurs, potentially resulting in serious injuries like leg fractures and lacerations.
CHIRP recommends replacing these steel plates with open grating made from composite materials, which are resistant to corrosion. An open grating also exposes the underlying pipework, making leak detection considerably easier.
