In practice, "deck de-rusting vehicles" are typically wheeled or tracked mobile platforms that integrate one or more of the aforementioned de-rusting modules (e.g., shot blasting with dust extraction, or high-pressure water jetting with vacuum recovery). They operate by moving along the deck-either towed or self-propelled-prioritizing operational continuity, efficiency, and adaptability to on-site conditions. The specific operating principle depends on the equipment type: shot blasting is used for heavy rust and thick paint layers; high-pressure water is employed when environmental standards are strict; and mechanical methods are used for localized or supplementary treatment.
Shot blasting (most common): High-speed rotating blast wheels propel steel shot (or abrasive media) onto the deck surface; the resulting intense impact breaks up and removes rust, old paint, and mill scale while creating a rough, active surface that promotes coating adhesion. The equipment typically features shot recovery and dust collection systems, making it a dry, efficient, and recyclable process.
Ultra-high-pressure water jetting: A booster pump pressurizes water to 1,000–4,000 bar (10,000–40,000 psi), and specialized nozzles form a high-speed water jet that strips away rust layers through the "water-wedging effect" and impact force. This method is eco-friendly and dust-free, causes no damage to the steel plate, and often integrates wastewater recovery units; it is suitable for applications requiring strict environmental compliance or the preservation of substrate integrity.
Mechanical methods (grinding/impact/sandblasting): Some "deck de-rusting vehicles" utilize rotating wire brushes, disc grinders, or pneumatic/electric impact hammers for physical removal. While a few patented designs combine de-rusting agent spraying with impact mechanisms (such as pendulum-style impactors to break off rust), these are less efficient and not mainstream. Pure sandblasting (compressed air plus abrasive media) has largely been phased out in modern ship deck operations due to excessive dust generation and poor environmental performance.
