Cruise line shipping is experiencing substantial growth worldwide. With its inherent natural beauty, the Caribbean has emerged as the worlds most popular cruising destination. With this growth the cruise lines are placing orders for larger ships. The government of the Bahamas saw the need to make major improvements to the port of Nassau in order to accommodate these mega-cruise liners.

The Oasis of the Seas would be the first of these larger ships to frequent Nassau. It is 1,184 feet in length and 198 feet at its widest; 43% larger than its predecessor. These improvements included dredging the harbor, and expanding the existing harbor facilities. An arrangement of three mooring dolphins would be installed for securing bow and stern lines where the pier is physically not long enough. Suspended walkways were designed for access to these mooring dolphins.

The walkways were designed to be approximately 70 feet in length; a welded structure made of tubing, angle, and plate. Due to the various angles and degrees of tubing involved, size and placement of vent and drain holes would be critical for proper galvanizing. The galvanizer worked with the fabricator, in turn with the engineer, to redesign the structure in a manner that would allow for a single dip galvanizing process. They also discussed and determined proper ventilation and draining that would ensure a quality, hot dip galvanized structure. The designer preferred not to have holes in the structure, so proper plugs were ordered and installed in the vent/drain holes after galvanizing.

In preparation for this project, the harsh tropical marine environment where the structure would be installed was taken into consideration. Due to the prohibitive cost in a project of this magnitude, stainless steel would not be an option. Paint may have offered an adequate barrier protection, but due to the use and abuse that the structure would be subjected to, a paint system would not offer the corrosion protection needed and therefore not a viable option. Hot-dip galvanizing was chosen for its ability to provide the corrosion resistance needed in this marine environment while having the durability to withstand use and the elements. Also, the lower initial cost and ease of maintenance made an easy decision to hot dip galvanize the structure.

Each year millions of visitors from across the globe enter the port of Nassau. For decades to come as they watch the dock workers carrying the lines along a walkway unmarred by unsightly rust stains and streaks; they will see first-hand the superior performance of hot dip galvanizing. A dock worker confident that corrosion has not eaten away at the structural integrity of the bridge he is trudging across. These are the reasons why hot dip galvanizing was the corrosion prevention package chosen to protect one element to the security of the 225,282 gross ton ships that will flood this port with economic activity for years to come.