Products FAQ

Yes. BV AH32 is specifically designed for shipbuilding and offers good weldability due to its controlled chemical composition and low carbon equivalent. Common welding methods include SAW (Submerged Arc Welding), SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), and GMAW/MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding). Welding procedures must comply with the shipyard’s approved welding specifications, and strict adherence is particularly important when welding thick plates.

BV Grade AH32 is a high-strength marine structural steel plate certified by Bureau Veritas (BV), with a minimum yield strength of 315 MPa and impact toughness at 0°C. It is primarily used in the construction of large commercial ocean-going vessels, medium-load offshore platforms, coastal port facilities, and the repair and reinforcement of marine structures. It is the mainstream structural steel for load-bearing applications in conventional, high-standard marine engineering projects worldwide.

The key differences between the two lie in their low-temperature impact toughness ratings and applicable scenarios:

BV Grade D: Possesses impact toughness at ultra-low temperatures of -20°C and is suitable for conventional projects in cold, high-latitude waters;

BV Grade E: Offers ultra-low-temperature impact toughness at -40°C, maintaining structural integrity in extremely cold polar environments where Grade D is insufficient, effectively preventing brittle fracture.

BV Grade E provides a higher safety margin and greater structural stability in extreme environments, making it the highest-grade conventional low-temperature-resistant marine steel in the BV series designed for extreme polar engineering applications.

Common delivery conditions include normalized (N), thermomechanically controlled process (TMCP), and quenched and tempered (QT).

Among these, the normalized condition is the most commonly used, as it refines the grain structure and effectively ensures low-temperature impact toughness.

BV Grade E shipbuilding steel plate is a BV-certified, standard-strength cryogenic marine structural steel with impact toughness at -40°C.

It is primarily used in the construction of polar and deep-sea vessels, high-latitude offshore platforms, ports and coastal facilities in ice-covered regions, as well as in the maintenance, repair, and retrofitting of cryogenic marine structures. It serves as a critical structural material in polar and cryogenic marine engineering projects worldwide.

1) Store indoors or in a rain-protected area;

2) Avoid prolonged exposure to standing water;

3) Stack in layers on raised supports;

4) Keep the steel plate markings intact;

5) Prevent surface damage during transportation;

6) For export by sea, use moisture-proof packaging.

We supply the following specifications and dimensions:

Thickness: 5 - 150 mm

Width: 1,500 - 4,000 mm

Length: 6,000 - 18,000 mm

Heat Treatment: Thermo-Mechanical Control Process (TMCP), Normalizing (N), Quenching and Tempering (Q+T)

Additional Inspection: Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Z-Direction Property Testing (Z15/Z25/Z35), Third-Party Inspection (SGS, BV, etc.)

Machining Services: Precision cutting, bending, drilling, rust removal, shot blasting, and anti-corrosion coating.

The shipment must be accompanied by an EN 10204 3.2 Marine Test Certificate (MTC) signed by a BV surveyor.

The certificate must include the furnace batch number, steel plate dimensions, chemical composition, tensile properties, and impact test data at -20°C, and must bear the BV marine inspection stamp.

The range available on the market typically includes:

Thickness: 5 - 150 mm

Width: 1,200 - 4,000 mm

Length: 3,000 - 18,000 mm

Specific dimensions depend on the steel mill’s production capacity and order requirements.

We offer one-stop value-added processing services, including precision cutting, bending, drilling, beveling, surface descaling, shot blasting, anti-corrosion coating, and heat treatment.

Common delivery conditions include hot-rolled (AR), controlled-rolled (CR), and TMCP (thermomechanical controlled process). For steel plates thicker than 40 mm, normalizing (N) is recommended to homogenize the grain structure and ensure stable low-temperature impact toughness.