Ships require a huge number of valves for application in fuel lines, steam lines, fire-fighting systems, drinking water, sewage water, bilge control, ballast systems, cargo loading & unloading and compressed air to name just a few. Interest in valves made using corrosion resistant alloys seems to be on the rise.
By KCI Editorial
Brass fixtures and fi ttings may spring to mind when refl ecting on the romance of the early cruise ships, but today’s engineers have a much wider range of materials to choose from. For example, steels, nickel-aluminium-bronze, plastics, composites, etc.
It seems that stainless steels and other high-grade corrosion-resistant alloys are increasingly entering the frame. Hence master distributor QRC Valves indicates that ‘the presence of nickel and molybdenum makes stainless steel 316 especially resistant to chlorides. As a result, it thrives in marine environments’. Their website also presents a handy table comparing stainless steel to brass. This indicates that in terms of corrosion resistance at least, stainless steel valves perform better than brass valves, especially in marine environments.
When discussing naval applications, Shipham Valves indicates that material selection becomes critical in the supply of the most cost-effective through-life solution. The company therefore manufactures products in various specialist materials including nickel aluminium bronze, bronze, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, Hastelloy®, Monel®, titanium, Inconel® and zirconium. Stra-Val too has a range of sea-water valves (up to 3”) available in titanium, Hastelloy, Monel and Alloy 20.
Materials research
Interest in the performance of valve materials is also refl ected in technical publications. Hence a technical article in the December 2023 issue of Materials Research and Technology reviewed Improvement in the surface performance of stainless steel by nitride and carbon-based coatings prepared via physical vapor deposition for marine application(1).
Amongst others, the authors conclude that ‘the hard nitride and carbon-based coatings … have typical advantages such as high wear resistance, good chemical stability, dense coating structure, etc.
It makes stainless steel anti-wear and corrosion-resistant performance in the marine environment further improved by continuously enhancing the ability of corrosive medium barrier and strengthening the ability of passivation film protection on the substrate’.
Market expectations
Finally, it is worth noting that the global shipping sector is in the ascendency. In a February 2025 report, Market Research Intellect value the 2024 global marine actuator and valve market at USD 9.42 billion and project growth to reach USD 20.53 billion by 2031. They ascribe this strong figure to increasing demand, technological advancements, and a focus on sustainability.
Such optimism seems backed up by data from India, where the shipbuilding industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom, having surged from USD 90 million in 2022 to USD 1.12 billion in 2024.
Meanwhile, no fewer than eight huge cruise liners, ten mega container carriers, and around 180 product tankers are set to be launched this year. Similar figures are predicted for 2026 and 2027.
About this Tech Article
Appearing in the October 2025 issue of Stainless Steel World Magazine, this technical article is just one of many insightful articles we publish. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues a year, available monthly in print and digital formats. – SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR DIGITAL VERSION ARE NOW FREE.
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