ship.energy

AIRCOAT to present final results of new coating solution

After four years of research and development, next week the Horizon 2020 funded project AIRCOAT will present the final results of a new coating solution which helps to prevent biofouling and reduce drag.

The AIRCOAT technology consists of a structured foil that retains air when submerged under water. Due to the lower viscosity of air (low resistance to deformation) in comparison to water and the air barrier, drag reduction and a limited attachment of fouling organisms are expected. The foil aims also to avoid the release of biocide anti-fouling substances into the water.

‘We’ve developed production lines and testing facilities, produced kilometres of foil, coated a research vessel and applied a test patch to a container ship, performed a vast number of calculations and simulations and spent many hours with hydrodynamic and biofouling experiments,’ said Johannes Oeffner, project coordinator of AIRCOAT and team leader at Fraunhofer CML.

‘We’ve tackled a lot of challenges, had to make some compromises and learned a lot which will help advancing AIRCOAT further for being a future ship efficiency technology.’ 

Biofouling is estimated to reduce a ship’s velocity by up to 10% per year. While many solutions exist today to reduce biofouling or drag, AIRCOAT says none of them combine both features.

The results will be presented on 16 March at a Virtual Final Event during Oceanology International in London. It will conclude with performance predictions and simulations made on the global fleet that could create a solution such as its foil, and the future opportunities created by the research results.  

To register for the event, click here

Rhys Berry