Europe Seeking Bio-Friendly Anti-Fouling Solution

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday June 2, 2014

A European Commission (EC) program is working to develop environmentally friendly anti-fouling coatings in an effort to improve ship efficiency, according to bio-on, a company involved in the product development.

Bio-on is working under the EC Synergistic Fouling Control Technologies Grant Agreement, supplying bio-based polymers to test their effectiveness in protecting vessels against the accumulation of marine organisms that hinder hydrodynamics.

The plastics are produced by fermentation of agricultural by-products and are biodegradable.

"We're extremely pleased to participate in the SEAFRONT European project and to be part of this great and outstanding consortium because we are very interested to investigate the potential of our material also in this sector one of the many in which our biopolymers can be used and anxious to collaborate in the development of environmentally friendly solutions at 360°," said bio-on CEO Marco Astorri.

The goal of the project is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by improving ships' efficiency, reduce the maintenance and cleaning needed for off-shore infrastructure and aquaculture equipment, and improve efficiency of tidal power installations, all while avoiding the leaching of harmful substances into marine environments.

Coatings developer International Paint and the Gold Standard Foundation recently presented a proposed method for internationally shipping companies to receive carbon credits for improving their fuel efficiency through the use of a marine coating.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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