Ship hull anti-fouling - are silicone-based coatings a viable, sustainable alternative to toxic, copper-based coatings in the Baltic Sea?
Biofouling of ship hulls with algae, moss animals and barnacles causes drag, increasing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, whilst also raising the risk of invasive species being transported. Commonly used copper-based biocidal hull coatings are toxic to non-target organisms and can pollute marine areas. This study tested a much less toxic silicone-based coating for suitability on vessels in the Baltic Sea.
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