2. On the Preservation of Iron Ships

Extract

My attention was called in January last year to the rusting of iron vessels by observing that the bilge water of my yacht (the “Myanza”, 214 tons) was much discoloured by red oxide. Knowing that bilge water is apt to become acid, and thus to attack iron, the result was easily accounted for. Even when the water does not become acid, we may expect some action on the iron to take place when sulphuretted hydrogen exists, as it frequently does there, in which case, first a sulphide, then an oxide, and some sulphate, are formed. The remedy seemed to be easy, because the acid can be neutralised by lime. This earth would also prevent the formation of sulphuretted hydrogen.