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Marine growth does not ask permission. Within weeks of arriving in warm water, a ship's underwater body can pick up a layer of slime, and within months, barnacles and weed. Underwater ship cleaning and biofouling removal in Nagoya Port keep the hull smooth, the engine efficient and the owner's paperwork in order.
A rough Hull needs more power to hold the same speed, so fuel use rises. Heavy fouling can add tens of per cent to resistance, according to published studies, and even a light slime layer is not harmless. There is also an environmental side. Organisms carried on a Hull can be released in a new port, and some become invasive species. This is why the International Maritime Organization has issued biofouling guidelines.
The IMO guidelines, adopted in 2011, ask ships to keep a biofouling management plan and a record book. They suggest regular inspection and cleaning, and they warn that cleaning methods should not damage the antifouling coating or release harmful material into the water. Many port and coastal authorities have their own rules on top. We confirm what applies at the berth with the agent before we start.
For light fouling we use soft brushes or cloths that do not harm the coating. For heavier growth, such as barnacles, we use scrapers or rotating brushes chosen to match the paint type. The Diver works in sections and uses CCTV so that the supervisor can see the cleaned result. Delicate areas such as sea chests, gratings and the propeller get special attention, because growth there affects both cooling and propulsion.
After the job you receive before-and-after video, photographs of selected areas and a short report stating the areas cleaned, the type of fouling found and the method used. This helps the owner keep the biofouling record book, and it gives a charterer evidence that the Hull was cleaned.
There is no fixed schedule, but common triggers are a long idle period, a drop in speed or a rise in fuel use, an upcoming sensitive port, or an inspection that shows heavy growth. We can combine a cleaning with an inspection so the decision is made on facts.
Cleaning solves today's problem. Prevention means good coating selection, careful planning of idle periods and regular inspection. We cannot change the paint on a ship afloat, but we can tell the owner how it is performing and when the next full coating job is likely to be needed. Sometimes a modest cleaning every few months is cheaper than a heavy cleaning once a year.
We do not clean in ways that damage the coating, and we do not promise results that the Hull condition cannot deliver. If the paint has failed and bare steel is showing, cleaning will not restore it. We say so in the report and describe the options.
Q1. When did the IMO adopt its biofouling guidelines?
The IMO biofouling guidelines were adopted in 2011, and they recommend a biofouling management plan and a record book on board.
Q2. How long does cleaning a full Hull take?
A full cleaning of a 180 to 200 m ship usually takes 1 to 2 days, depending on the amount of fouling and the number of divers.
Q3. What is the underwater area of a bulk carrier?
Roughly 10,000 to 20,000 square metres, depending on size, from about 180 m to 290 m in length.
Q4. What is included in the cleaning report?
Before-and-after video, photographs of selected areas, a record of the areas cleaned, the type of fouling found and the cleaning method used.
