Marine Biofouling Control Methods

🔬 Nature-Inspired Solutions Meet Cutting-Edge Technology 💰 Marine #biofouling costs the maritime industry billions annually and compromises critical ocean monitoring systems. Two Maine innovators just create an elegant solution by combining their technologies. 🔍 The Challenge: Monitoring buoys need clean sensors for accurate data, but traditional toxic anti-fouling paints harm marine ecosystems and require frequent, costly reapplication. 💡 The Innovation: bluesonde technologies developed water monitoring systems with UV-based anti-fouling that keeps sensors pristine using light—no chemicals needed. FINSULATE USA created wraps inspired by sea urchin spines—microscopic synthetic fibers that prevent marine organism attachment through physical barriers, not biocides. ➕ The Partnership: At the ClimateTech Incubator at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute these two Cleantech Open alumni are integrating their technologies. UV handles sensor windows where light penetrates. #Finsulate biomimetic wraps protect surfaces UV can't reach. 🟰 The Aim: A complete, non-toxic anti-fouling solution that delivers: ▶️ Reliable, accurate ocean data ▶️ Extended deployment periods ▶️ Reduced maintenance costs ▶️ Zero chemical pollution ▶️ Longer equipment lifespan Both companies are Maine Technology Institute portfolio companies, proving Maine's commitment to developing breakthrough climate solutions is paying dividends. This partnership demonstrates how #Maine's climate tech ecosystem—supported by institutions like The Roux Institute at Northeastern University—is creating practical innovations that matter. #OceanMonitoring #MarineTechnology #Biomimicry #CleanTech #Innovation #ClimateScience #EnvironmentalTechnology #Aquaculture #Sustainability Cleantech Open Northeast / ACT Marine Technology Society (MTS) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Aquaculture Association Maine Aquaculture Association Maine Center for Entrepreneurs Maine International Trade Center Dirigo Labs Greenlight Maine

⚓️ Marine Coatings Beyond Biocides: What Comes Next? With global regulators steadily restricting the use of traditional biocides, the marine coatings sector is being pushed into uncharted territory. The challenge is no longer incremental SPC improvements but a fundamental redesign of how we prevent and manage biofouling. 🔹 Foul Release Coatings (FRCs), once niche, are gaining momentum as biocide-free alternatives — relying on slick, low-surface-energy chemistry rather than toxins to deter fouling. 🔹 Advanced polymer matrices and nanostructured surface technologies are pushing the boundaries further, aiming for durability and long-term performance in harsher operational profiles. 🔹 Hydrodynamic integration — coatings will increasingly be tied to hull optimization and proactive in-water cleaning strategies, requiring cross-disciplinary collaboration. 🔹 Data-driven performance models — biofouling risk analysis, digital twins, and monitoring tools will guide ROI and compliance decisions. The regulatory horizon is clear: chemical dependency will continue to tighten. The engineering challenge is to advance solutions like FRCs and hybrid systems that deliver measurable gains in efficiency, carbon reduction, and lifecycle cost. Is the Marine industry ready to embrace coatings where surface science, not chemistry, does the heavy lifting?

This Roomba for ships is saving millions in fuel costs and emissions: The company behind it is Hullbot Australians Tom Loefler and Karl W. started it to deal with biofouling. That's the layer of algae and small animals that accumulates in the submerged part of ships. It looks irrelevant but is a actually a huge deal: ↳ It increases drag, making ships burn over 20% more fuel to maintain speed. ↳ Removing it requires docking ships and is a logistical headache. ↳ Antifouling paints release microplastics and toxic chemicals. The traditional way to deal with biofouling is reactive and very inefficient. So Hullbot does it differently. Proactive prevention beats reactive cleaning: 1️⃣ Deploy small autonomous robots that work 24/7  2️⃣ Clean hulls weekly, removing organisms before they settle  3️⃣ Use gentle brushes that protect coatings  4️⃣ Capture debris for environmental compliance 5️⃣ Continuous hull performance data for fleet operators They’ve cleaned 1000+ ships, achieved 15-26% fuel savings and prevented the spread of invasive marine species. I see it as dental hygiene for vessels. – If this company sounds interesting to you 👇 🗞 Grab my 5 min newsletter issue about them: https://lnkd.in/eb7aZuce

Process & Working Principle of Seawater Chlorination Seawater chlorination is widely used in power plants and desalination facilities to control marine growth in cooling systems and condenser tubes. Without proper treatment, algae and biofouling reduce efficiency, block circulation, and impact power generation. 🔹 1. Chlorine Production Process Seawater → Prefilter → Pressure Pump → Auto-Clean Filter → Electrolytic Chlorination Unit → Sodium Hypochlorite Storage → Dosing Pump → Application Points The system produces sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) directly from seawater. Output can be adjusted (0–100%) by controlling the electrolysis current. 🔹 2. Working Principle Electrolysis of Seawater: Low-voltage, high-current DC is applied to the electrolysis tank. At the Anode: Chloride ions (Cl⁻) form chlorine gas (Cl₂). At the Cathode: Water reduces to hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and hydrogen gas (H₂↑). Chlorine Hydrolysis: Cl₂ reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid (HClO). Final Product: A disinfectant mixture of ~80% NaClO (hypochlorite ion) and ~20% HClO, both highly effective against biofouling. ⚠️ Note: Calcium & magnesium ions in seawater form scale on electrodes, so regular acid cleaning is required. ✅ Result: Continuous or shock chlorination ensures clean pipelines, efficient heat transfer, and reliable plant operation. #WaterTreatment #SeawaterChlorination #Desalination #PowerGeneration #CoolingSystems #EngineeringLearning

What if there was a way to prevent biofouling without harsh chemicals, downtime, or endless labor? Biofouling—the buildup of algae, barnacles, and organic deposits—has long plagued industries like marine, water treatment, and oil & gas. Traditional methods? Effective but costly, invasive, and harmful to the environment. Enter ultrasonic antifouling—a game-changing solution. By using high-frequency sound waves, this technology prevents fouling without toxic chemicals or invasive cleanups. The result? ✅ Enhanced equipment performance ✅ Longer operational lifespan ✅ Eco-friendly operations Curious how ultrasonic sound waves disrupt fouling and keep equipment running smoothly? Discover the full story and explore the science, benefits, and real-world applications in my latest article. 🌊🚀 🔗 Read it here #UltrasonicAntifouling #IndustrialMaintenance #Sustainability #TechInnovation #Efficiency #EnvironmentallyFriendly