Zinc anodes can be used in saltwater or seawater environments to protect the steel structures of hull, tank walls, ballast tanks and seawater cooling systems. The shape of the anode is usually disc-shaped, trapezoidal and disc-shaped.

Ship hulls: Zinc anodes are usually installed on the hulls of ships, especially in submerged sections. They protect steel or iron hulls from galvanic corrosion.

Propellers and shaft systems: Zinc anodes can be installed near propellers and shaft systems to protect these important propulsion devices from corrosion.

Rudders and Servos: Rudder and servo components are also susceptible to corrosion and zinc anodes can be installed to extend their service life.

Seawater Cooling Systems: In some seawater cooling systems, zinc anodes can be used to prevent corrosion of heat exchangers and pipework.

Ballast tanks and oil tanks: In ballast tanks and oil tanks of some vessels, zinc anodes are also used to prevent corrosion, especially if these compartments are exposed to seawater for long periods of time.

Subsea Equipment and Structures: Zinc anodes can also be used to protect equipment on ships that have some subsea operations from seawater corrosion.

Zinc anodes protect these metal structures by self-sacrifice, whereby they oxidise in preference to metals such as steel in an electrochemical reaction, thus retarding or preventing corrosion of the latter. This method of corrosion prevention is known as cathodic protection and is widely used in marine engineering and ship maintenance.

Zinc Anodes are Installed on the Ship