MODERN ADVANCEMENTS IN ECO-FRIENDLY, ANTI- FOULING IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY

Cadet Anirban Bhattacharjee, B.Tech. Marine Engineering (2nd Year), Indian Maritime University (Erstwhile DMET/MERI)

Biofouling is undesirable accumulation of implants on the surface of submerged objects, obstructing sustainable production. It is relevant in the growing global marine industry to refurbish research to pave the way for future research endeavors. Biofouling causes a 50% downgrade in the speed of the vessel, increasing the cost of fuel consumption. The main barrier to efficient and sustainable production in marine aquaculture is biofouling (Durr and Watson 2010).

Global aquaculture production in 2016 was 110.2 million tons (US$243.5 billion), including 54.1 million tons of finfish (US$138.5 billion), 17.1 million tons of mollusks (US$29.2 billion) (FAO 2018). Aquaculture rate of growth is quicker than other food production sectors despite annual growth of worldwide aquaculture has bogged down to a mean of 5.8% during the year 2000–2016 (FAO 2018).

Marine shellfish aquaculture has grown steadily over a previous couple of decades, with Asia dominating and accounting for more than 90% of worldwide tonnage (FAO 2018). Globally, biofouling is an unfavorable condition being faced within the marine environment. This issue negatively affects erected underwater structures also as mobile watercraft like ships and vessels. (Gregory D Bixler and Bharat Bhushan). Especially, biofouling causes severe problems like corrosion, distortion and alteration of structures submerged within the water, increased weight, increased drag leading to the reduction in watercraft's speed and up to 40% additional fuel consumption.

Current anti-fouling strategies inhibit fouling organisms by releasing high amounts of toxic chemicals into the environment. Compounds with low side effects and high repressive performance have a high priority for biofouling control. Growing demand for bio-friendly anti-biofouling surfaces has stimulated the event of the latest and ever refurbishing paradigms. Stress localized durable anti-biofouling surfaces. The impact of biofouling on the marine environment provides a

qualitative review of these antifouling technologies (Sultan Ahmed Alghamdi Rafael Alejandro Quijada Cordova).

We dive deep into eco-friendly alternatives for antifouling from shellfish, finfish, and barnacle aquaculture. Implementation of tin-free self-polishing co-polymers is essential. The performance of antifoulant releasing coatings has been improved due to the modified self-polishing co-polymers and the recently invented degradable copolymers. The bilge of a vessel is usually made up of stainless steel on which corrosion is realistic, but researchers have found several methods to significant reduction by electrodepositing polyaniline films on stainless steel which thereby reduces the corrosion resistance of different conducting polymers.

The integration and synergistic action of separate materials and technologies will be a path-breaking direction in marine anticorrosion and anti-fouling in future. Deeper analysis of the biology of organisms involved particularly concerning larval settlement and metamorphosis along with the properties of adhesion and adhesives (Holm 2012).

New findings of using barnacle adhesives were adopted to improve the overall performance of the vessel. Many plants and marine organisms inhabit a unique micro/nano topography that protects from colonizing fouling agents. The skin of the shark was one of the first topographic models, the unique morphology of this skin consists of patterned dermal denticles covered by riblets allowing the formation of small vortices, along the body of the shark, which reduces the drag flow, and even the small grooves between the riblets prevents the micro-organisms from settling. The most recent Advancement in anti-fouling is being accomplished by Jotun who has developed a 200-kilogram (440-pound) magnetic crawling robot the ‘HULLSKATER’ that removes anti-foulant.

It is remotely controlled by operators in Norway who use a 4G connection and the robot's four high-definition cameras to inspect the surface, before using its brush to remove initial signs of build-up.

Photo Credit: She of the Sea