A Review of Biofouling of Ships’ Internal Seawater Systems

Abstract

Internal seawater systems (ISS) are critical to the proper functioning of maritime vessels. Sea water is pumped on board ships for a broad array of uses, primarily for temperature control (e.g., engine and electrical systems), cooling capacity (e.g., air conditioners and refrigeration), and water provision (e.g., drinking, firefighting, steam, and ballast). Although sea water may spend only a brief period within ISS of a vessel, it can carry microorganisms and larval stages of macroorganisms throughout the system leading to biofouling accumulation that can impair system function or integrity. ISS can also act as a sub-vector of species translocations, potentially facilitating biological invasions. This review describes ships’ ISS with a focus on operational impacts of biofouling and current drivers and barriers associated with ISS biofouling management. As ISS internal components are difficult to access, reports and studies of ISS biofouling are uncommon and much of the dedicated literature is decades old. The impact of biofouling on ISS and vessel operations is based on increased surface roughness of pipework and equipment, restricted water flow, corrosion and subsequent component impingement, reduced surface functional efficiency, and potential contamination by pathogens that can affect human and aquatic animal health. Biofouling management is primarily achieved using antifouling coatings and marine growth prevention systems, but independent and accessible data on their efficacy in ISS remain limited. Further research is required to resolve the extent to which biofouling occurs in ISS of the modern commercial fleet and the efficacy of preventive systems. Such information can ultimately inform decisions to improve operational efficiency for vessel operators and ensure any biosecurity risks are appropriately managed.

On the Development of Ultradurable Extremely Water-Repellent and Oleophobic Soot-Based Fabrics with Direct Relevance to Sperm Cryopreservation

“…17,35,36 One of the reasons related to the enormous expenditures for annually renovating the ships' hulls 36 and maintaining the widely spread electrothermal de-icing systems of aircrafts 37 is the difference in the physical mechanisms governing the passive icing and biofouling protection. 38 It would be great if the naval vessels, for instance, can pass through a given aquatoria without translocating biospecies and being covered by ice in order to overcome biosecurity risks 39 and the occurrence of capsizing, pitching, and topside flooding due to loss of stability and extra weight from the ice burden. 40 This seems to be a challenging task because simultaneously suppressing the heterogeneous ice nucleation and biofilm growth is conceivable solely at a subtle and custom arrangement of the surface morphology, topography, chemistry, porosity and roughness.…”

Combining Topography and Chemistry to Produce Antibiofouling Surfaces: A Review

“…Surface fouling is defeating man-made devices in various fields. Water treatment, the marine , and food industries as well as the medical field − are seeking surfaces that will prevent undesired fouling. This spontaneous deposition of molecules, macromolecules, and micro-organisms on an engineered surface upon contact with a liquid medium leads to the formation of biofilms that strongly impede performance and functionality.…”

“…However, these approaches are limited in time, only affect micro-organisms and do not prevent biomolecular fouling, and still face the issue of antibioresistance, biocide resistance and damage to the environment. Only short-term specific applications will benefit from this mechanism. ,, A second mechanism relies on contact-killing. Surface chemistry approaches allow immobilization of active molecules onto the surface, leading to micro-organisms being killed upon contact or adhesion.…”

“…However, these approaches are limited in time, only affect micro-organisms and do not prevent biomolecular fouling, and still face the issue of antibioresistance, biocide resistance and damage to the environment. Only short-term specific applications will benefit from this mechanism. ,, …”

“…Only short-term specific applications will benefit from this mechanism. 3,13,14 (ii) A second mechanism relies on contact-killing. Surface chemistry approaches allow immobilization of active molecules onto the surface, leading to micro-organisms being killed upon contact or adhesion.…”