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Comment by tesseract | Hacker News Reader

My understanding is that shipping containers are usually made of COR-TEN steel, which forms a protective layer when it does rust (similar to the protective oxide layers that form on aluminum and stainless steel). But considering the containers are exposed to sea salt spray pretty much continuously, it makes sense that the additional protection of a coat of paint is necessary.

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No, that's not going to work.

CLIMATES NOT TO USE COR-TEN®:

COR-TEN® steel requires alternating wet and dry cycles to form a properly adhered protective layer. Areas that have salt laden air, high rainfall, humidity, or persistent fog are typically not the proper environment for COR-TEN®.

http://www.corten.com/frequently-asked-questions.html

Aware of that one. The trail bridge at Pilarcitos Creek on the California Coastal Trail in Half Moon Bay was made of unpainted Cor-Ten steel. That will not last in the coastal zone, where it never dries out. The bridge collapsed when park staff drove a tractor across it.[1] No injuries, but the heavily used trail was out for most of two years.

The new bridge is made of marine-grade aluminum.

[1] http://www.hmbreview.com/news/groundbreaking-for-coastal-tra...

even if the containers are made with corten, it's not good for sea. The protective rust keeps getting washed off by the rain and the salt is too much for it to handle. Ends up rusting just as bad..

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