Rust or corrosion is a silent enemy that has plagued the U.S. Navy and its ocean-going vessels for as long as they’ve been at sea. In the widely circulated photo below, you can see evidence of the rust caused by the relentless saltwater spray.
The Navy ship is the USS Dewey (DDG 105), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. This photo was taken when the ship entered Sembawang Port in Singapore on February 18, 2025. With hundreds of shares on various social media platforms, comments surrounding the photo expressed concerns about the ship’s readiness and the Navy’s apparent lack of attention to its maintenance. However, similar to how it protects its cars from rust, the Navy devotes a lot of time and energy to combating the silent enemy that attacks its ships.
The Navy notes that its ships are designed to withstand the harsh climate associated with life on and near the ocean, but preventative maintenance to reduce rust damage never ends. For years, the Navy’s rust wars involved boatswain’s mates and other sailors assigned to deck departments cleaning, sanding and painting the interior and exterior surfaces of their assigned ships. However, a new attack plan launched in February 2026 will take the fight to the next level.
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U.S. Navy Revises Rust Warfare
Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) sails in the Timor Sea during Exercise Kakadu 2024 – U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons
A video posted by the Defense News YouTube channel reports that the Navy is working on a new plan to prevent warships from rusting. The multi-pronged program aims to improve the appearance of naval vessels, reduce maintenance costs and ensure the fleet is ready after “years of deferred corrosion work”. The Navy’s war on rust is nothing new. The Navy began using ferrous metals on its wooden ships long before the first steel-hulled naval ships entered the fleet in 1886, a process that has continued ever since. While the U.S. Navy still uses wooden-hulled ships, much of its current fleet is primarily made of steel.
The Navy’s newly released anti-rust program starts with its design. The improved design, which could be incorporated into the U.S. Navy’s newest battleships, allows seawater to be completely drained from the ship’s surface to help reduce standing water that can seep into gaps and cause corrosion. At the same time, the use of rust-resistant materials such as composites and stainless steel in fittings and structures can reduce maintenance efforts, allowing the focus of maintenance to be shifted elsewhere.
A key part of the new plan was making sure all existing rust was removed before painting. Sailors on duty at sea are encouraged not to paint over surface rust. They also receive improved tools and cleaners to make their work more efficient. While the ship is in the shipyard for maintenance, a dedicated team of contractors uses specialized methods to control corrosion and install new fittings and scupper holes with improved drainage designs.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.