By Henrik Dyrholm
Following the global financial crash in 2008 there has been a continuous uncertain economic landscape haunting most markets. Trade growth has slowed with many countries continuing to manage high levels of debt and unemployment. In general, shipping is perceived as a good measure of the global economy, so whilst tonnage continued to grow in the period following the financial crisis the decrease in cargoes combined with an oversupply of tonnage has significantly impacted freight rates.
It is, therefore, no surprise that ship owners and operators are eager to find ways to maximise the efficiency of their vessels. One way in which they do this is by investing in protective anti-fouling coatings. These coatings prevent fouling organisms from attaching to the ship’s hull during service, thereby avoiding a rise in fuel consumption and stack emissions. Fouling organisms that attach to the hull increase frictional resistance, which can affect both the performance and durability of the vessel, impacting the amount of energy required to propel the ship at a given speed.
Antifouling systems
Antifouling systems are by no means new. Some of the disadvantages of marine biofouling have been recognised and combated for more than 2,000 years. Early adopters used a vast array of solutions from copper sheathing, tar and wax, through to physical methods such as scraping biofouling off the ship’s side.
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