Biofouling is problematic for the shipping industry and can lead to functional and financial setbacks. One possible means of biofouling prevention is the use of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light. Previous studies have investigated UVC with marine coatings, but the synergistic effect with color and surface material, specifically reflectance, has yet to be determined. This study comprised three parts: UVC and color (red vs. white), UVC and reflectance (stainless steel vs. polycarbonate), and UVC and exposure intervals (weekly intervals and 10 min intervals). There was no variance in the biofouling communities for colored surfaces when exposed to 254 nm UVC. Reflectance studies demonstrated that the surface material plays a role in biofouling settlement. Stainless steel panels had significantly greater macrofouling settlement than polycarbonate, specifically among encrusting bryozoan, tubeworms, and tunicate communities. Panels of both surface materials exposed to indirect UVC significantly differed from controls and those exposed directly to UVC. Exposure intervals were also found to reduce biofouling settlement especially with long frequent intervals (i.e., 10 min/day). UVC can be utilized on various colored surfaces and different surface types, but the effectiveness in preventing biofouling is ultimately determined by the duration and frequency of UVC exposure.

Biofilms are conglomerates of cells, water, and extracellular polymeric substances which can lead to various functional and financial setbacks. As a result, there has been a drive towards more environmentally friendly antifouling methods, such as the use of ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation. When applying UVC radiation, it is important to understand how frequency, and thus dose, can influence an established biofilm. This study compares the impacts of varying doses of UVC radiation on both a monocultured biofilm consisting of Navicula incerta and field-developed biofilms. Both biofilms were exposed to doses of UVC radiation ranging from 1626.2 mJ/cm2 to 9757.2 mJ/cm2 and then treated with a live/dead assay. When exposed to UVC radiation, the N. incerta biofilms demonstrated a significant reduction in cell viability compared to the non-exposed samples, but all doses had similar viability results. The field biofilms were highly diverse, containing not only benthic diatoms but also planktonic species which may have led to inconsistencies. Although they are different from each other, these results provide beneficial data. Cultured biofilms provide insight into how diatom cells react to varying doses of UVC radiation, whereas the real-world heterogeneity of field biofilms is useful for determining the dosage needed to effectively prevent a biofilm. Both concepts are important when developing UVC radiation management plans that target established biofilms.