Figure 1.
This is the area chosen for the first application of FPU® on the USS Forrestal.
Figure 2.
Note the level of corrosion apparent rust indicating the severe environment that FPU® would be exposed to.
(SSPC Rust Grade D)
Figure 3.
Because the bilge area formed the floor of one of the ship's main engineering spaces, sandblasting was not permitted.

Surface preparation prior to coating was carried out by using hand scrapers, wire brushes and solvent.
(SSPC SP-2)
Figure 4.
This photo shows the test area after coating with FPU®.
Figure 5.
After six months of deployment, the test section looked like this. The photo shows standing water with a liberal amount of algae and other marine growth present. Other ingredients normally found in a carrier's bilge waterinclude fuel oil, lubricating oil, fire fighting chemicals, solvents and acid forming materials of various types.
Figure 6.
One year after coating, the test panels were examined. The creation of a dry surface was facilitated by inducing a suitable list on the ship and placing cloth dams in strategic locations in the bilge.
Figure 7.
The test panel was cleaned by using hand rags, revealing a white surface 95% intact. Two relatively darker patches were apparent in the upper right hand corner of the|photograph where some corrosion has occurred. These areas were hard to get at and had been improperly prepared prior to applying the test coating. Over the course of the year, residual corrosion had worked through to the surface.
Figure 8.
This last photo shows the test area after seven years of steaming. It remains 95% corrosion free with deterioration only in the two areas noted during the first examination.