Merchant

Navigate towards a sustainable future with our lightweight, corrosion-free marine piping, which reduces your merchant fleet's weight, fuel consumption, and maintenance while complying with the latest regulations.

Mission-Critical Water Solutions for Efficient Operations

The reliability of container ships, bulk carriers, trawlers, and LNG carriers is paramount. We are committed to enabling the safe and sustainable handling of water, gas, and chemicals at sea that are compliant with the latest regulations. Selecting lightweight, long-lasting, corrosion- and maintenance-free piping systems helps improve the environmental impact by expanding the system's service life and reducing the overall ship weight and fuel consumption over the whole service life.

 

Applications

Ballast Water System

We offer durable plastic pipes (0-40°C) for efficient ballast water management. Resistant to seawater & chemicals, they ensure a long, maintenance-free lifespan (up to 25 years), minimizing downtime and costs. Ideal for marine applications and industrial water piping.

Ballast Water Treatment

Prevent invasive species with proper ballast water treatment (BWT). Traditional piping struggles with seawater & chemicals, leads to leaks & downtime. We offer BWT-ready, corrosion-resistant solutions and prefabricated skids by OEMs for fast on/offshore integration.

Fresh Cold and Hot Water

Our highly efficient water supply systems featuring corrosion-resistant pipes (Instaflex (PB) or iFit) deliver fresh water to cabins, kitchens, restaurants, and bars on all types of ships. Flexible for easy install, saving time & cost for reliable potable water delivery.

Success Stories

High-Performance Vessel

Fr. Fassmer GmbH, Germany

Fassmer addressed condensation issues of a traditional post-insulated metal solution in their HVAC and cooling systems by replacing them with GF's pre-insulated plastic solution COOL-FIT. This lightweight marine piping system offers superior insulation, simplifies installation, and provides energy-efficient operation, ensuring reliability for maritime applications.

Efficient Sand Mining

Van Ouwerkerk BV, Netherlands

MS Zeeburg uses ecoFIT pipes by GF Piping Systems, a lighter, corrosion-free alternative to metal for seawater in their trailing suction hopper dredger. GF provided comprehensive project support via simplified planning, prefabrication, and customization. This marine piping solution ensures reliable transport of water and chemicals, enhancing efficiency and reducing maintenance.

More Reference Cases

Do you want to read more reference cases? Click here to access the full marine success story collection and experience more about the benefits of thermoplastic piping systems for merchant vessels.

FAQs

What plastic materials are best for use on merchant ships?

The material selection for passenger ships depends on specific operational needs. Below are commonly chosen plastics and their unique advantages:

  • Polyethylene (PE): Valued for its elasticity and corrosion resistance, PE is versatile across various ship systems including ballast water, water treatment, exhaust gas scrubbers, and cooling systems for fresh and seawater. Its flexibility helps absorb torsional and vibrational stresses, enhancing vessel performance.
  • Polybutene (PB): Recognized for its exceptional creep resistance and chemical durability, PB is ideal for applications such as drinking water systems, compressed air lines, and chilled water circuits. It ensures water purity without imparting taste or contaminants, meeting stringent hygiene standards for potable water.
  • Polypropylene (PP): Due to it's high chemical resistance, the two variants of PP systems, Random Copolymer (PP-R) and Homopolymer (PP-H), are favored for drinking water applications and black and grey water applications on board. It offers high flexibility, which is crucial for adapting to torsional and bending stresses in ship structures.
  • PVC Materials: PVC-C (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) and PVC-U (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) are also used depending on specific application needs. PVC-C offers enhanced temperature and chemical resistance for demanding marine environments, while PVC-U excels in mechanical strength for rigid piping systems.
  • HEAT-FIT Fire Retardant System The HEAT-FIT fire retardant system is highly insulating and robust, protecting the medium-carrying inner pipe (PE100) from fire. The flame-retardant coating reacts upon exposure to flames, forming a protective layer that shields the pipe from heat and fire. 

In addition, advanced solutions like multilayer pipes and fittings, as well as pre-insulated pipes such as COOL-FIT (pre-insulated PE), deliver added benefits. Multilayer designs optimize performance under varied conditions, while pre-insulated pipes enhance energy efficiency and environmental resilience.

Each plastic material undergoes rigorous testing and certification to meet stringent safety and performance standards essential for marine applications. Their lightweight nature, ease of installation, and resistance to corrosion collectively contribute to enhanced efficiency and durability in maritime operations.

Does any piping comply with FTP Code Part 5 and 2?

Yes, GF Piping Systems offers piping solutions that comply with FTP Code Part 5 and Part 2 requirements. Specifically, SeaCor (PVC-C) meets these standards and is approved by the US Coast Guard (USCG) for non-essential applications in marine environments. This approval ensures that Seacor piping maintains the necessary safety and performance standards outlined in the FTP Code, making it suitable for various marine applications where compliance is crucial.

Are plastic piping systems suitable for chemical transport on board?

Plastic piping systems generally exhibit good corrosion resistance, making them suitable for many chemical transport applications on board ships. However, the suitability depends heavily on specific factors such as the working conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) and the concentration of the media being transported.

  • For precise recommendations tailored to your requirements, please contact our chemical department for expert consultancy.
  • Visit our chemical resistance tool to explore detailed information on the compatibility of our plastic piping systems with various chemicals.

How do plastic piping systems contribute to weight reduction and space optimization on ships?

The lightweight design of plastic piping systems contributes to weight reduction of the ship, which helps to improve fuel efficiency and increased passenger capacity. Additionally, plastic piping systems can be designed with smaller dimensions and prefabricated, allowing for space optimization and flexibility in installation.

Where can I find information on pipe support type and distance?

For detailed information on pipe support types and recommended distances, please refer to the GF Technical Handbook. This resource provides comprehensive guidelines tailored to various piping systems and applications. Alternatively, you can contact our experts for personalized assistance and recommendations based on your specific project requirements.

  • Explore the GF Technical Handbook for guidance on optimizing pipe support strategies and ensuring efficient installation and maintenance of your piping systems.

What are the installation advantages of plastic marine pipes?

Due to their lightweight nature, flexibility, easy jointing technologies, and prefabrication options, plastic piping systems offer ease of installation. Faster installation and simplified maintenance can improve project timelines and overall efficiency for shipyards, reducing labor hours and straightforward integration with other systems.

How do thermoplastic piping systems improve operational performance on board ships?

Plastic pipes, fittings and valves resistance to corrosion and long-term durability can contribute to higher construction quality and reliability. The improved operational performance can reduce rework, warranty claims, and post-delivery issues, leading to higher customer satisfaction and the reputation of shipyards.

What makes GF's marine pipes and fittings more reliable and hygienic for marine applications?

Marine pipes and fittings made from thermoplastic or multilayer composites require minimal maintenance and offer long-term durability. They do not require regular painting or coating to prevent corrosion, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. The smooth inner surface of plastic pipes also minimizes the risk of fouling and scaling, further facilitating maintenance procedures.

How can shipyards benefit from the expertise and comprehensive support provided by GF Piping Systems?

Shipyards can leverage the expertise and comprehensive support provided by GF Piping Systems. By offering a wide range of lightweight materials, automation solutions, jointing and tools, and services, the collaboration can help you overcome technical challenges, ensure compliance, and streamline the procurement and logistics processes.

Speak to an expert

How do thermoplastic piping systems help reduce the carbon footprint of maritime operations?

Thanks to their lightweight characteristics and the use of renewable and recyclable raw materials (i.e. bio-attributed PVC), GF Piping System’s solutions have a reduced environmental impact than metal solutions. By providing Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) we enable transparent planning and help ship owners and operators to reduce GHG emissions during operation.

Georg Fischer Piping Systems Pvt. Ltd

96 Lal Bahadur Shastri Road

400083 Mumbai

India

GF logo on the headquarters building