Investigation of fuel consumption on an operating ship due to biofouling growth and quality of anti-fouling coating

Abstract

This article will look into to the environmental and economic issues in the maritime sector that arise due to biofouling. For the shipping industry, biofouling is known to increase hull roughness that would lead to an increase in friction resistance and fuel consumption. Here we present a short review regarding ship-hull roughness due to biofouling and its associated increase in skin friction drag, and analysis of fuel consumption from an operating ship with two different anti-fouling coating. The data shows that a higher quality antifouling would result in a low biofouling attachment on the hull surface, resulting in a lower fuel consumption.