Navy Looks To New Hull Coating to Keep Barnacles at Bay

8 2,009

By Jason Jacks

Small as they are, sea barnacles can still slow a Navy warship by as much as 10 percent and increase its fuel consumption by up to 40 percent.

To fix this problem, the Office of Naval Research is developing a new hull coating that the Navy hopes will reduce the build-up of barnacles and other crustaceans on ships’ hulls.

Marine growth of ships adds weight and increases drag, reducing a vessel’s fuel efficiency. The navy estimates its loses $1 billion annually in fuel and maintenance costs because of these salt water critters.

For the coating, researchers are currently looking at two nontoxic substances. The first one combines texture and antimicrobial properties to repel microorganisms. The other, a mixed-charge compound, would prohibit proteins and cells from binding to a ship’s exterior.

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