Troubleshooting a strange smell

Stange smell and extreme biological growth explosions were a mystery to the crew. At first a faulty bunkering from a truck contaminated with fuel was the main suspect after initial analysis. However the problem returned 3 months after a time consuming, cumbersome and elaborate treatment of the water tank(s). After extensive inspections in Dubai marina and Barcelona, water sampling and investigations it was found to be caused by coating problems in the water tanks. We assisted the client from start to finish to identify the cause of the coating problems and to prove this to the yard were, under warranty, all coating had to be replaced in the end. 

The culprit: thinner that was used during cleaning of the paint spray nozzles.