After a high-profile photo of a rust-streaked destroyer sparked presidential ire, the US Navy is mounting a serious campaign to tackle its long-standing corrosion problem. Officials admit the issue has been neglected for years, but they now have a concrete plan combining better materials, sailor-friendly tools, and new technology to combat what one expert calls a direct threat to fleet readiness.
The turning point came in February 2025, according to a detailed report from The War Zone. A now-infamous image of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Dewey, covered in severe “running rust” during a port visit in Singapore, landed on the desk of then-President Donald Trump. The resulting demand for action forced the Navy to prioritize a problem it had long deferred. “We know what to do, but we choose not to do it,” stated Mark Lattner, director of the Navy’s Ship Integrity and Performance Engineering, during a recent industry symposium. He explained that corrosion was perpetually deprioritized for more immediate issues, but that calculus has now changed.
This isn’t just about vanity. While Lattner acknowledges rust makes ships look like “rusting garbage scows,” the implications are operational. Unchecked corrosion accelerates wear, increases long-term maintenance burdens, and can ultimately impact a vessel’s combat readiness. The new strategy, as outlined by Lattner, attacks the problem on multiple fronts with surprisingly straightforward solutions. One key shift is the wider adoption of more durable materials, like polysiloxane paint—a tough, easy-to-clean coating originally developed as anti-graffiti paint—and the use of stainless steel or composites in certain fittings.
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Another major focus is simplifying the work for sailors. The Navy is promoting “sailor-friendly” solutions such as single-pack paints that eliminate complex mixing, reducing error. They are also emphasizing proper cleaning over simply painting over rust, providing specialized cleaners for the task. As reported by The War Zone, even basic design changes are in play, like installing better scuppers (deck drains) to divert water away from the hull, preventing the constant moisture that breeds corrosion.
To measure progress, the Navy has developed a new, data-driven inspection system. Survey teams now use a specialized smartphone app to grade ships on corrosion during walk-arounds, generating a quantitative score instead of a subjective assessment. This allows the Navy to finally track the fleet’s condition with hard numbers. Furthermore, “Corrosion Control Assistance Teams”—comprised of both trainers and contractors—are being deployed. These teams teach best practices to crews and perform preservation work during short port visits, addressing issues in small, manageable increments rather than waiting for major overhauls.
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Lattner is also pushing for changes in future ship designs to bake in corrosion resistance from the start. He admits, however, that the Navy can’t match the pristine standards of the commercial cruise industry, which performs constant, swarming touch-ups during tight port schedules—a luxury of time and resources the warship fleet doesn’t have. The goal isn’t perfection, but a sustainable system that preserves material readiness. For a Navy that operates its ships hard across the globe’s saltwater environments, winning the war against rust is now officially part of the fight to maintain dominance at sea.
