Temperature and Biome Effects on Proactive Grooming Frequencies for Marine Hull Coatings
Abstract
Grooming of marine anti-fouling (AF) and fouling release coatings (FRCs) has previously been shown to have many economic and environmental benefits when compared to reactive cleaning. However, existing data sets for U.S. Navy (USN) qualified coatings were limited to a single geographic area, precluding prediction of groomings effectiveness in the wide variety of locations that harbor USN vessels. Via execution of a concurrent study in both warm-water and cold-water locations, this research investigates the correlation between seawater temperature and the proactive grooming frequencies necessary to control biofouling accumulation. At each site, panels coated with different AF and FRCs were immersed for a 32-week test period that spanned the historically hottest and coldest seasons in both locations. Environmental conditions as well as fouling coverage and constituents were monitored throughout. Grooming was found to be effective when utilized in tandem with a USN qualified AF or FRC, as it controlled fouling levels when conducted at the appropriate frequency based on local fouling pressure. While an explicit relationship between seawater temperature and the proactive grooming frequency necessary to preclude fouling accumulation was not determined, a regional, coating specific, temperature-based grooming frequency model for the USN was proposed. Additionally, an updated proactive cleaning cost model, based on the temperature-based grooming frequency model, was developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1173499
Entities
People
- Samuel Royster
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School