A new approach (the Unified Design Equation) is proposed for the design of sacrificial anode cathodic protection systems for offshore structures. This method results in a single design equation which incorporates both long term maintenance, current density requirements and the use of high initial current density to achieve rapid polarization. The Unified Design
Equation is compared to current design practice, to suggest values for the parameters useful for areas and conditions where historical designs are known to perform well. Under conditions where experience is lacking (e.g., new geographic areas, deep water, etc.) the design parameters can be determined experimentally.
Keywords: cathodic protection, offshore structure, design, sacrificial anode, design slope parameter.