Session Summaries
Ship Hydrodynamics and Energy Efficiency
The "Ship Hydrodynamics and Energy Efficiency" will focus on recent developments in the understanding
of the role that marine fouling plays in ship performance and efficiency. Some of the topics covered in the
session will include: 1) shipboard monitoring of vessel power & speed; 2) proactive cleaning strategies to
maintain energy efficiency; 3) quantifying the impact of fouling on frictional drag; and 4) the measurement
of hydrodynamic forces on fouling organisms for predicting fouling release.
Regulatory and Environmental
Focus on antifouling products and their use on commercial vessels and on pleasure crafts is increasing
and this product type is becoming more and more regulated both on a local, regional and global scale.
This session will cover legislative initiatives affecting antifouling products, development of tools for the
regulatory process and discuss some of the environmental issues related to the use of antifouling
products that are being debated at present.
Marine Bioadhesion--Bioadhesives
Barnacles, sea weeds, oysters, starfish, mussels, limpets, and tube worms all find themselves attached to
surfaces ranging from rocks to ship hulls. From a fundamental perspective, there is a lot of fascinating
science to learn from these sea creatures. With applications more in mind, we also need to know how
such organisms stick. We can imagine that a new generation of antifouling coatings may be developed to
interfere with bioadhesion processes. Presentations in this session will describe our most recent insights
on the biochemistry, biology, chemistry, interfacial contacts, and mechanics of marine bioadhesives.
Biofouling Issues for Industry
This session will cover biofouling issues and emerging technologies pertinent to maritime industrial
operations, including shipping, offshore constructions (Subsea oil and gas developments:
Fixed Platforms, Semi-submersibles, Spars, Floating Production Storage and Offloading "FPSOs", Oil
and Gas Platforms), oil & gas industry, emerging hydroenergy installations, desalination systems, water
treatment and aquaculture. Many of these industries face unique biofouling situations which present
challenges for research and development, and represent an emerging market for new businesses. This
session aims to engage industry practitioners and research community to enable the development of
environmentally sustainable new technologies for use in our fragile oceans.
New Approaches to Antifouling Testing Methods
The session will cover a variety of topics including optical methods that track interactions between the
cells/larvae as they approach a surface prior to committing to settlement; assays to quantify settlement /
adhesion strength of fouling organisms; methods to assess the performance of coatings under dynamic
conditions; methods to predict the long-term performance of fouling-release coatings etc.
Biofouling Control Technologies-Bioinspired Coatings
This session will cover fundamentals and applications of bio-inspired marine coatings. These coatings
prevent settlement, adhesion, or growth of various macrofouling organisms via interrupting or inhibiting
biological adhesives manufactured by barnacles, tubeworms, mussels, and/or seaweeds.
Mechanism-based knowledge regarding the synthesis, secretion, cross-linking and/or curing of these
adhesives is sought.
Copper and co-biocides – Environmental concerns contra efficacy.
More than 95% of all marine coatings in use contain biocides. Even though considerable efforts
have been made to introduce new biocide free antifouling technologies, these have not yet made
significant impact in steering the market away from the biocide technologies. However, the usage
of copper and other compounds is regulated more strictly than ever before, resulting in a reduced
number of available biocides. At the same time efficacy is becoming even more important than
before due to increased fuel costs, carbon emissions and the risks associated with invasive
species. Can these two trends, on the one hand harder regulations on biocide usage, on the
other hand demands for proven efficacy, converge or are they inherently diametrical to each
other?
The concern for the marine environment was highlighted during the TBT era and the subsequent
international ban can be regarded as a global success story where stakeholders in the area took
the responsibility to prohibit further use of TBT. Since then, a global trend towards antifouling
regulations has become evident with new legislations in Europe and China as two examples. It
may be that our concerns regarding the environment are still focused on marine ecotoxicology
from marine biocide dissemination but perhaps the debate should instead be more related to
efficacy parameters in view of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and invasive species.
Efforts are being made to reduce GHG emissions within the shipping industry and recently, the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) committee on marine environment (MEPC) adopted a
resolution that demands energy efficiency to be monitored. At the same MEPC meeting, a second
resolution of interest regarding antifouling was adopted referring to control and management of
transfer of invasive species. It was recognized that inferior fouling protection is a risk regarding
invasive species that cannot be neglected. Guidelines to minimizing the risk were presented and
adopted. These two IMO decisions put focus on efficacy.
Even though the challenges may seem insurmountable, today research offers new tools and
possibilities. Knowledge in material, biology, chemistry and environmental sciences can provide
for new aspects and innovative thinking and new substances are introduced to the market – but
what can be done to speed up the process?
How do we balance between the need of efficacy to reduce GHG emissions and prevent invasive
species contra the ecotoxicological risks with using marine biocides? Is it possible to develop new
marine biocide technologies with lesser environmental impact without compromising on safety
and efficacy?
In short - do we discuss the right questions and what kind of research do we need to balance the
ecotoxicological concerns on dissemination of marine biocides contra the need of efficacy to
prevent GHG emission and invasive species? (A question for all speakers.)
New Coatings for AF and Fouling Release
This session will cover new approaches to coatings which do not release toxic materials into the
environment. These coatings are either inherently non-fouling or minimize adhesion of marine
organisms, allowing for easy release.
General Aspects of Fouling: Macro Fouling
Summary not available at this time.
General Aspects of Fouling: Micro Fouling
While being small in size, micro-fouling or microbial biofouling is a very costly and important problem. This
section focuses on formation and development of micro-fouling, diversity and properties of microbial
communities, microbial chemical communications and approaches to prevent micro-fouling.
Marine Corrosion Materials and Coatings
This session will cover the aspects of corrosion and its prevention of materials, specifically aluminum
alloys, in the marine environment. Aluminum platforms are becoming more prevalent in marine
environments, while the fundamental understanding of many of aluminum alloy systems are still not
understood. Topics will include corrosion mechanisms, mechanical failures, coating systems, case
studies, material selection and performance. Passive alloys other than aluminum are also welcome.
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion
Summary not available at this time.
Bisecurity/Bioinvasions
Biofouling of ship, boat, or barge hulls represents an important vector for the spread of non-indigenous
species. This vector may take on even more importance as environmental regulations affecting
antifouling hull coatings continue to evolve. The session on Bioinvasions/Biosecurity aims to provide
scientists, regulators, and end users with new information regarding the nature of transport of nonindigenous fouling species, the risks associated with different types of vessels or hull treatments, and the
development of regulations addressing the problem.