Tag: eco-friendly ships

Nano structured surfaces that make organisms fall off when the ships move Organisms, such as , sticking to the lower structure of ships are increasing the required propulsive power. It is estimated that ships' fuel consumption could be reduced by up to forty percent by removing those organisms. Erosive systems containing biocides are mainly used for this purpose.However, the use of eco-friendly alternatives such as silicon based fouling release coatings, nearly all enhanced with an oil additive, have increased lately. Researchers at GE Global Research Center in the U.S. have shown that organisms react differently to the various silicone fouling release coatings, and coating type crossed with oil type is very important when it comes to establishing an organism's attachment strength magnitude.However, there is a need for improved eco-friendly alternatives and researchers are working on solutions. For example, scientists at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have developed what they call a "low emission" approach where avermectins, a class of antibiotics, are included. Only very small amounts are released, since the substances in the coating are tightly associated with the binding matrix agent.The scientists found that 1mg avermectin/gr coating very effectively hindered adult barnacles from colonization, but a similar coating ...