Hull Fouling Has $500K A Year Price Tag

Hull fouling affects fuel efficiency and transmits invasive species.

Operating in areas with a high risk of hull fouling can cost a cruise vessel up to $500,000 a year by significantly raising fuel consumption, according to a new study by shipping energy efficiency company Eniram.

The study used vessel performance data from more than 60 cruise ships and 38,000 operative sea-days, along with data on temperatures and salinity to consider the effects of various conditions and the impact of hull cleaning and dry docking.

Eniram said hull fouling, in which algae, barnacles, and other sea life attaches itself to ship hulls, is becoming a greater concern for ship operators.

"Increased regulation and fuel prices are forcing operators of all vessel types to tackle inefficiencies in their operations," it says.

"Hull fouling is a key contributor to higher fuel consumption."

Eniram says the study offers guidance for operators on how often and when to clean ships' hulls, how to choose a cleaning treatment and measure its effectiveness, and how to choose routes and itineraries that reduce fouling.

Aside from its impact on fuel efficiency, hull fouling presents the threat of transmitting invasive species to new areas.

Guidelines passed by the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in July of 2011 offer guidance on how ship operators can minimise that threat.

Many companies are now developing new products to reduce fouling, such as an eco-friendly antifoulant introduced by the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology earlier this year.