Marine Biofouling and Antifouling Treatments

Introduction
Fouling is the accumulation of unwanted material on solid surfaces to the
detriment of function. It can also be defined as deterioration of manmade
structures by sessile, sedentary and boring and fouling organisms and organic
& inorganic particles. The fouling materials can consist of either living organisms
(biofouling) or a nonliving substance (inorganic or organic).
Biofouling or biological fouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants,
algae, or animals on wetted surfaces e.g. ships' hulls & engine (in marine biofouling),
piping and reservoirs (in industrial biofouling) and implants, biosensors, respirators and
catchers (in medical biofouling). Such accumulation is referred to as epibiosis a
relationship between two organisms, one of which lives or grows on the other, but it is
not parasitic on it. Biofouling is generally undesirable for many fields e.g. medical,
marine and industries etc.
In general, medical biofouling includes only the biofilm, whereas marine and
industrial biofouling generally include a combination of biofilm, macrofouling and
inorganic fouling.
Medical biofouling
Medical biofouling occurs in areas such as prosthetic implants, biosensors,
respirators, catheters, dental implants and medical equipment. Problems include implant
rejection, malfunction of biosensors and spread of infectious diseases.
Industrial biofouling
Industrial fouling occurs in areas such as power plants, water-treatment systems,
and membrane, heat-exchanger, and food/beverage industries. Problems include pipe
blockage, decreased membrane flux, contaminated water and reduced heat-exchanger
efficiency.
Marine biofouling
In the marine industry, the accumulation of living organisms on artificial surfaces
by adhesion, growth and reproduction is known as biofouling. In other words, the
settlement and growth of marine plants and animals on submerged structures.
These structures typically include

ships
ships hulls
ships engine
marine (harbour) platform
piers
piling and oil rigs
fishing nets and
bridge pillars
buoys

sonar devices
pontoons
offshore structures
oil installations
underwater cables
underwater acoustic instruments
seawater cooling systems and
marinas and areas with the best
aeration, such as a ships waterline,
propeller and rudder blade

Marine Fouling organisms and their biology

The biofouling organisms is highly diverse, and it is estimated that the number of
fouling species involved in fouling is around 4500-5500 although only a small
number of these species are of great concern to ship Owners and Operators.
Biofouling is divided into
Microfouling biofilm formation and bacterial adhesion and
Macrofouling attachment of larger organisms with biofilm and bacterial
adhesion.
Due to the distinct chemistry and biology organisms are also classified as
hard- or soft-fouling types.
Organism
Type
Calcareous / non Fouling-typing
calcareous
Barnacles
Animal
Calcareous
Macrofouling
Polyzoa

a) Bryozoans
Animal
Calcareous
Macrofouling
Animal
Non-calcareous
Macrofouling
b)| hydroids
Mollusks
Animal
Calcareous
Macrofouling
Polychaete

Calcareous

Tube worms
Animal
Calcareous
Macrofouling
Zebra mussels

Calcareous
Macrofouling
Tunicates
Animal

Brow algae
Plant
Non-calcareous
Macrofouling
(Ectocarpus)
Green alage
Plant
Non-calcareous
Macrofouling
(Entermorpha)
Red algae
Plant
Non-calcareous
Macrofouling
(Rhdophycea)
Marine bacteria
Slimes
Microfouling
Diatoms
Slimes/p
Microfouling
lants

As can be seen above, plant fouling is an assemblage of different types of

seaweed, mainly green and brown varieties, while animal fouling comprises
principally barnacles (acorn and gooseneck), tube worms, polyzoa (hydroids and
bryozoa), and mussels. The slime consists of microscopic forms of both plants and
(diatoms) and bacteria.

Barnacles
A barnacle is a type of arthropod constituting the infraclass Cirripedia in
the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence related to crabs and lobsters. Barnacles
are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters, typically in
erosive settings.
They are sessile(nonmotile) suspension feeders, and have two nektonic (active
swimming) larval stages

 Barnacles are the most commonly encountered fouling animals. These animals live
within hard calcareous shells and have a net of tentacles (organs or limbs) to trap
planktonic food.
Two main species Barnacles Acorn and Barnacles Gooseneck
Barnacle Acorn larvae are selective in choosing their settlement sites and
recognise the presence of other barnacles. This results in barnacles attaching close
to other species to allow cross fertilisation.
Barnacles Gooseneck are especially adapted for life attached to moving objects.
Unlike acorn, they are not a coastal or shoreline fouling organisms but settle on
moving ships hulls in the open ocean.

Hydroids (typically tubularia)

Hydroids are typical animal fouling organisms and are plant-like in appearance.
They possess flower like organs in their upper body, called flower heads are
actually batteries of stinging cells which are used to paralyze and capture
planktonic food.
Hydroids are colonial forms. They hydroids live in colonies and are often found on
the flat bottom of vessels where light intensity is low.

Molluscs
The word mollusc and mollusk are both derived from the French mollusque, which
originated from the Latin molluscus, from mollis, meaning soft.
Molluscs (or mollusks) compose the large phylum of invertebrate animals known as
the mollusca. Molluscs are the largest marine phylum, comprising about 23% of all
the named marine organisms. The phylum is typically divided in 9 to 10 taxonomic
classes. The three most universal features defining molluscs are a mantle with a
significant cavity used for breathing and excretion, the presenceof radula
(except for bivalves) and the structure of nervous system.
Molluscs are paired shells and are similar to mussels and oysters.
Due to low adhesive property, relatively weak attraction towards moving objects
limits its ability to attach to moving structures; but growth is normally found on
stationary objects.

Polyzoa
As the name suggests, these animals are composed of many cells. They have a
hard calcareous skeleton. Some forms are flat and encrusting while others have an
erect growth habit. In each case close observation reveals their lace-like
appearance. They use a net of tentacles with which to catch their planktonic food.
Divided into 2 groups; encrusting and erect.
Tube Worms (also called Serpulids)
Easily recognised by their hard white calcareous tubes, these tube-dwelling
animals are again plankton feeders and entrap their food using a net of adapted
tentacles. Again, the larvae can exercise a degree of selection over their
attachment site and are capable of recognising the presence of their own species
often resulting in the build up of large complex colonies.

Tunicates
Tunicates are sessile marine animals, some
of which are important fouling organisms.
Tunicates live in a wide range of habitats,
from the lower part of the seas down to
waters of great depth. Some species are
attached to solid surfaces, such as ships,
while others are attached to loose substrata
of sand and mud. Most species feed mainly
on minute plant cells of the plankton, which
they filter from a stream of water down through the oral opening into the
perforated pharynx and expel through the atrial opening. This current brings
required oxygen and carries away waste products.
Plant (Weed) Fouling
The most common plant fouling on ships is the brown algae Ectocarpus spp. and
the green algae Enteromorpha spp., often referred to as sea grass due to its similar
appearance and colour.
Polycellular algae begins with the settlement of microscopic spores. These spores
can settle in seconds and colonise a submerged surface within hours.
Plant fouling usually occurs where there is available sunlight, i.e. around the water
line and a few metres below. It is not usually found on the flat bottom of vessels.
Slime fouling
Slime on submerged surfaces is attributable to the accumulation of unicellular
algae (diatoms).
Difficult to control, slime has a very low surface profile and can remain adherent on
ships hulls at speeds in excess of 30 knots.