W.S.Murdoch Corrosion prevention Cathodic protection (CP) is a technique to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making it work as a cathode of an electrochemical cell. This is achieved by placing in contact with the metal to be protected another more easily corroded metal to act as the anode of the electrochemical cell. Cathodic protection systems are most commonly used to protect steel, water or fuel pipelines and storage tanks, steel pier piles, ships, offshore oil platforms and onshore oil well casings.W.S.Murdoch started as an apprentice mechanical engineer in the automotive industry.He then decided to work in the construction sector and found himself on some of the largest projects in the UK.