Desiccant dehumidification in the shipping industry
Dehumidifying cargo holds
Hygroscopic cargo such as coffee, tea, tobacco, paper and powder are particularly affected by humidity during global transit. As sea temperatures fall, air in the cargo hold cools causing a rise in the internal relative humidity – often to the point where condensation is formed.
Dehumidification of oil platforms and ships
Combined with the aggressive nature of salt, humidity is a major cause of corrosion to marine structures. It can dramatically reduce the lifetime of machinery and seriously affect the reliability of electrical equipment.
Whilst it may not be practical or necessary to protect equipment in constant use, humidity control should be considered during lay-up or refit. Machinery, empty tanks and holds, accommodation, offices and other unheated spaces will certainly benefit from environmental protection by dehumidification.