DIAGNOSIS, NUMERICAL MODELING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CATHODIC PROTECTION REFURBISHING OF THE METAL SHEET PILING OF THE DOCKS OF QUETZAL MARINE TERMINAL IN GUATEMALA

We report the experience in refurbishing the near 1200 A cathodic protection system of the 2 mile and 100ft deep steel wall made of sheet piling after 30 years service. We report the diagnosis of the sheet piling including underwater ultrasonic measurements, the analysis of the performance of the array of MMO anodes along the docks, the effects of coating defects in the anodic wirings, and the performance of the high current rectifiers. We also report the experience of the replacement of the MMO anodes, the redesigng of the anode mountings, the wiring works of the anodic cables and rectifier modifications. We report the results of the tests of the CP current distribution both in the wirings as well as the returns of current from the structure. The status of the CP system performance after the refurbishing is presented. We also developed numerical modeling of the CP system as designed, and we discuss the limitations of the original design when considering all the metallic structures involved, other than the steel sheet pilings facing all electrolytes other than the main dock sea front.