Cruise and Ferries

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

• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  • Drinking Water Solution
  • Black and Grey Water Solution
     
• 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.

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.

• View our application matrix to find the best material fit.
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Plastic piping systems can be up to 60% lighter than metal alternatives. Therefore, the lightweight design reduces the ship's overall weight, enhancing fuel efficiency and increasing passenger capacity. Additionally, these systems can be designed with smaller dimensions and prefabricated for space optimization and flexible installation.

Depending on the application and the used piping material, GF Piping Systems offers a variety of jointing technologies tailored for marine environments, including socket fusion, butt fusion, electrofusion, and solvent cementing.

These methods are chosen for their ability to provide secure, reliable connections:

• Socket fusion: Known for creating homogeneous connections, socket fusion is ideal for robust installations both onshore and offshore. Its precise temperature control minimizes quality loss during welding processes.
  
• Butt fusion: This method stands out for its simplicity and automated functions, ensuring quick setup and high precision through precise weld parameter control. It is particularly effective for large-diameter pipes, meeting stringent marine requirements.
  
• Electrofusion: Utilizing lightweight equipment, electrofusion offers a semi-automatic process that enhances operational ease. It enables traceability through weld data storage and supports configurable workflows, ensuring robust quality control throughout the jointing process.
• Cementing: Applied for specific materials like SeaCor (PVC-C), solvent cementing provides a simple, economical method to create secure, leak-proof joints with minimal expertise. GF's piping systems and cements are marine-approved and designed for durability in harsh marine conditions.

Additionally, GF Piping Systems provides solutions such as Flanges and Threaded Joints to connect plastic pipes to existing installations onboard ships. Prefabrication options further streamline installation and maintenance processes, reducing labor hours and improving project efficiency for shipyards.

Each of these technologies serves specific needs within the industry, combining reliability with technological advancements to meet diverse project requirements effectively.

Plastic piping systems' corrosion resistance and long-term durability enhance construction quality and reliability, reducing rework, warranty claims, and post-delivery issues. This improvement in operational performance enhances customer satisfaction and enhances the reputation of shipyards.

Marine pipes and fittings built from thermoplastic or multilayer composites require minimal maintenance and boast long-term durability. These materials eliminate the need for regular painting or coating to prevent corrosion, thereby reducing maintenance costs and downtime. Additionally, the smooth inner surface of plastic pipes reduces the risk of fouling and scaling, making maintenance procedures easier and more efficient.

Shipyards, owners, and operators can benefit from GF Piping Systems' comprehensive know-how in marine piping solutions and local support in 31 countries worldwide. Our services include a wide range of lightweight pipe, fittings, and valve materials, automation solutions, jointing tools, and services for simplified project planning, system design, and installation. This collaboration helps overcome technical challenges, ensure compliance, and streamline procurement and logistics processes.

GF Piping Systems' solutions leverage lightweight characteristics and incorporate renewable and recyclable raw materials, such as bio-attributed PVC, resulting in a reduced environmental footprint compared to metal alternatives. Our commitment to transparency is reflected in the provision of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), empowering ship owners and operators to plan sustainably and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout their vessels' operational lifecycles.

• Learn more about our Sustainability efforts
• Product LCAs and EPDs
• Try our Carbon Calculator to compare the carbon footprint of plastic and metal piping systems