Synergistic fouling control technologies

 
Marine biofouling, the unwanted colonization of marine organisms on surfaces immersed in seawater, has a huge economic and environmental impact in terms of maintenance requirements for marine structures, increased vessel fuel consumption, operating costs, greenhouse gas emissions and spread of non-indigenous species. The EU SEAFRONT project aims to significantly advance the control of biofouling and reduce hydrodynamic drag by integrating multiple technology concepts such as surface structure, surface chemistry and bio-active/bio-based fouling control methodologies into one environmentally benign and drag-reducing solution for mobile and stationary maritime applications. Multiple technology concepts are addressed in this paper and multidisciplinary and synergistic approach is sought to develop environmentally benign fouling control coatings. Furthermore, a combination of laboratory-based performance benchmarking and end-user field trials is undertaken in order to develop enhanced fundamental and mechanistic understanding of the coating-biofouling interactions and the impact of this on hydrodynamic drag.