Biofouling is one of more important factors that affect the efficiency of waterborne transportation since ships consume less fuel when their hulls are clean and smooth - free from marine fouling organisms, such as barnacles, algae or molluscs. The International Maritime Organization, IMO, (2009) estimates that without corrective action and the introduction of new technologies, air emissions, due to increased bunker fuel consumption by the world shipping fleet, could increase by between 38% and 72% by 2020. It is estimated that antifouling coatings provide the shipping industry with annual fuel savings of $60 billion and reduced emissions of 384 million tonnes and 3.6 million tonnes, respectively for carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide per annum.
The nCATS research group has a long history of exploring and assessing anti-fouling coatings in marine environments. This means that the facility has access to a variety of assessment tools and facilities. This includes access to dock-side sea-water immersion site at the seawater immersions are NOC. National Oceanography Centre (NOC page) and variety of electrochemical equipment.
nCATS Facility – coating assessment equipment includes: