There appears to be increased news coverage of late, concerning major pieces of infrastructure affected by costly corrosion damage and weakening structures. On 5th December 2025, Aberdeenshire Council provided an important update on the future of the recently closed Aboyne Bridge, following new findings which have raised fresh concerns about the condition of the structure.
Aboyne Bridge is a seven-span reinforced concrete arch structure that carries the B968 Bridgeview Road carriageway over the River Dee in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. The structure was designed by FA Macdonald & Partner, Engineers, and George Bennett Mitchell, Architect, in 1937 and constructed between 1938 and 1940 to replace a previous suspension bridge. The structure also has a category B historic listing, which was designated on 30th March 2000. Philip McKay, Head of Roads and Infrastructure, said: “As part of the ongoing design work for remedial repairs to Aboyne Bridge, further planned invasive site investigations have been undertaken over the recent months. These further tests were required to confirm assumptions made earlier in the options considered during appraisal work.
Assessment Outcomes
1. “Unfortunately, this work has confirmed that there are further anomalies in our understanding of the bridge design and several new significant structural issues.
2. It has now been established that the reinforcement in a critical part of the main bridge span, the hinge, is not what we had expected from the original design drawings. This compromises the original assumptions that were made regarding potential solutions to strengthen this element.
3. Due to the length of the bridge, the steel reinforcement bars are required to be joined. To achieve a structurally competent connection, in this case the joint is created with a device known as a coupler. Recent invasive investigations examined the condition of one of these couplers and found it to be suffering from significant corrosion, much worse than previously noted in the main reinforcement bars. While only one coupler was inspected, it is highly likely that the deterioration is repeated across the bridge. As a result, these elements cannot be repaired in the way we had planned.
4. Finally, the main deck is showing much more extensive corrosion assisted concrete deterioration in critical areas than anticipated, and this would mean that carrying out a reinstatement of the deck to re-establish a structurally sound reinforced concrete element would not be possible in the way we had planned. https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/2025/dec/aboyne-bridge-update-51225
5. Bridge replacement costs were estimated as ~ £30M (Nov.24) for a 120 year life.
On the 2nd December 2025, the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) was proud to serve as a sponsor of the prestigious 72nd Hatfield Memorial Lecture, hosted at the University of Sheffield. ICorr’s President, Dr Yunnan Gao, attended the event on behalf of the Institute, demonstrating ICorr’s ongoing commitment to supporting academic excellence and advancing corrosion and materials science across the UK.
A Distinguished Lecture Delivered by ICorr Fellow Professor Mary Ryan
This year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Mary Ryan, CBE, FREng, FICorr, a Fellow of ICorr and Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial College London, https://www.imperial. ac.uk/about/leadership-and-strategy/provost/vice-provost-research/ who is renowned globally for her work in corrosion, surface engineering, and nanomaterials. Professor Ryan offered an insightful and forward-looking presentation entitled “Life and Death at the Nanoscale” that captured the attention of industry experts, academics, and students alike. Her lecture continued the long-standing tradition of the Hatfield Memorial Lecture series, which honours metallurgist Professor William Hatfield and has become a cornerstone event for the UK materials and corrosion community.
Presentation of the Hatfield Award During the event, Professor Mary Ryan was formally recognised for her significant academic and professional achievements. She received a commemorative award presented by Professor Joan Cordiner, Head of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CMBE) at the University of Sheffield, marking a highlight of the evening.
ICorr’s Role and Presence at the Event As one of the official sponsors, ICorr’s support was prominently acknowledged throughout the night, including on the main auditorium screen and event materials. The presence of the ICorr President reinforced the Institute’s mission to promote collaboration, scientific excellence, and knowledge exchange across the corrosion and materials community.ICorr’s involvement with the Hatfield Memorial Lecture reflects its dedication to fostering innovation and supporting both established and emerging experts in the field.
Photo: Professor Mary Ryan (Right) Receiving Her Award from the Head of CMBE of Sheffield University.
Photo: ICorr Highlighted as One of the Event’s Sponsors on the Main Screen.
Photo: Overview of Venue of the 72nd Hatfield Memorial Lecture.
The ICorr Engineering Training Governing Board (ICorr-ETGB), in collaboration with R‑Tech and BSSA, is pleased to invite you to register for our one‑day training course, “Corrosion Mechanisms in Stainless Steel.”
The Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) proudly reinforced its international leadership and strategic influence as an Official Supporting’s Partner at the 5th Middle East Metallurgy, Corrosion and Coatings Conference and Expo (MECOC EXPO), held from 26-29 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Formalised through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ICorr’s role as a Supporting Partner highlighted the Institute’s long-standing commitment to advancing corrosion science, asset integrity, and professional excellence across the Middle East and global corrosion community. MECOC EXPO has rapidly established itself as a premier regional platform, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, technology providers, and decision-makers to address critical challenges in corrosion, metallurgy, and protective coatings.
High-Level Representation and Engagement
Upon invitation from the organisers, ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, attended the full conference and expo programme, including the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and multiple technical sessions, engaging extensively with international stakeholders, speakers, and industry leaders. His presence underscored ICorr’s strategic intent to deepen collaboration and knowledge exchange within the region.
ICorr’s delegation represented a strong cross-section of its international membership and leadership, including:
Dr Muhammad Ejaz – ICorr UAE Branch Chair (Former ICorr Aberdeen Branch Chair)
Amir Attarchi – ICorr UAE Branch Committee Member (Former ICorr Aberdeen Branch Long-Time Committee Member)
Dr Prafull Sharma – ICorr Midlands Branch Chair
Together, the delegation actively participated in technical discussions, networking sessions, and strategic exchanges with regional operators, asset owners, regulators, and technology providers.
Recognition of ICorr’s Contribution
In recognition of its leadership and support, ICorr was formally presented with the Supporting Partner Award by the Conference Executive Chairman, Juma Al Maskari. This award reflects ICorr’s growing global impact, its technical authority, and its commitment to supporting high-quality professional forums that advance corrosion management and integrity assurance worldwide.
Executive Summary – ICorr Exhibition and Outreach
As part of its Supporting Partner role, ICorr was offered a dedicated exhibitor stand, serving as a focal point for engagement throughout the conference. The ICorr delegation showcased the Institute’s professional offerings, including membership pathways, training and certification programmes, technical guidance, and global collaboration opportunities.
The exhibition stand attracted strong interest from regional organisations, operators, consultants, and academic institutions, enabling productive discussions on capacity building, professional development, and long-term collaboration across the Middle East and beyond. This engagement further strengthened ICorr’s visibility and influence within one of the world’s most strategically important corrosion and energy markets.
Thought Leadership in Digital Corrosion Management
A major highlight of ICorr’s technical contribution was the panel discussion hosted by Prafull Sharma, titled: “Digital Frontiers in Corrosion Prevention: Smart Monitoring, Predictive Analytics & AI Integration.”
The session generated lively and in-depth debate, reflecting strong industry interest in digital transformation, data-driven integrity management, and artificial intelligence applications in corrosion prevention. The discussion was very well received, reinforcing ICorr’s role at the forefront of emerging technologies shaping the future of corrosion engineering.
Celebrating Excellence and Professional Achievement
The conference concluded with outstanding recognition for ICorr members and affiliates:
Dr Muhammad Ejaz, ICorr UAE Branch Chair, was awarded both
Corrosion Specialist of the Year, and
Steel Integrity Strategy Excellence Award, recognising his exceptional professional contributions and leadership.
Corrosion Radar, employer of ICorr Midlands Branch Chair Prafull Sharma, received the Corrosion Inspection Technology Award, highlighting innovation and excellence in advanced corrosion monitoring solutions.
These accolades reflect not only individual achievement, but also the depth of expertise, professionalism, and global impact of the ICorr community.
Value, Impact, and Lasting Contribution
ICorr’s participation at MECOC EXPO 2026 delivered significant value through:
Strengthening ICorr’s global visibility and strategic partnerships
Promoting professional excellence, innovation, and digital transformation in corrosion management
Showcasing ICorr’s leadership, expertise, and commitment to the Middle East region
Celebrating and recognising outstanding achievements of ICorr members and affiliates
Through its active engagement, technical leadership, and recognised contribution, ICorr continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of corrosion science, asset integrity, and sustainable infrastructure worldwide.
Photo 1: Conference Board Displaying ICorr as An Official Supporting Partner.
Photo 2: ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao (Right 2) at the MECOC EXPO Opening Ceremony.
Photo 3: ICorr President Dr Yunann Gao (Left) and ICorr UAE Branch Chair Dr Muhammad Ejaz (Right), Receiving the Supporting Partner Award from Conference Executive Chairman Juma Al Maskari.
Photo 4: MECOC EXPO 2026 Supporting Partner Award Presented to ICorr.
Photo 5: ICorr Delegation at MECOC EXPO 2026. L-R: Hooman Takhtechian, Dr Prafull Sharma, Dr Yunnan Gao and Dr Muhammad Ejaz.
Photo 6: ICorr Delegation at the ICorr Exhibition MECOC EXPO 2026. L-R: Amir Attarchi, Dr Yunnan Gao and Dr Muhammad Ejaz.
Photo 7: Delegates at the Closing Ceremony of MECOC EXPO 2026.
Professor Arjan Mol is a global leader in corrosion science and engineering, recognised for his pioneering corrosion research and measurement technique development and leadership. After his doctorate at Delft University of Technology in 2000 for his seminal work on filiform corrosion of coated aluminium alloys, he advanced industrial innovation as Project and Team Leader for Lifetime Performance of Lightweight Structures at TNO Built Environment. Returning to Delft in 2006 and becoming Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, where his research has transformed understanding of local corrosion mechanisms, metal surface treatments, polymer-metal interfacial bonding, and active protective coatings across sectors from aerospace and offshore to automotive and microelectronics. Professor Mol’s groundbreaking contributions include pioneering in situ TEM corrosion studies, integrated FTIR-EIS analyses in Kretschmann geometry, and eco-friendly alternatives to hexavalent chromium-based technologies. His work on active protective and self-healing coatings, coupled with high-throughput inhibitor screening, has paved the way for machine-learning-driven corrosion protection strategies. Combining deep scientific insight with industrial relevance, he has delivered numerous keynote and plenary lectures worldwide, inspiring generations of researchers.
On behalf of the Institute of Corrosion, we extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Mol on this well-deserved recognition. The U. R. Evans Award honours outstanding and sustained contributions to corrosion science, and Professor Mol’s exceptional achievements exemplify the spirit and legacy of this award. ICorr looks forward to celebrating his accomplishments with the corrosion community during the 2026 award presentation and associated events.
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