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Balancing the consequences of in-water cleaning of biofouling to improve ship efficiency and reduce biosecurity risk
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Cleaning biofouling from ship hulls underwater prevents the spread of invasive species and improves fuel efficiency, but the process releases microplastics from antifouling coatings, live organisms, and dissolved biocides into the surrounding water. This policy analysis argues that while capture and treatment technologies can reduce — but not eliminate — these risks, policymakers must weigh the full suite of tradeoffs when regulating in-water hull cleaning.
Effective environmental policy often involves introducing and maintaining important activities with positive outcomes while minimizing environmental consequences; essentially decoupling a positive activity from its negative impacts. In-water cleaning (IWC) of biofouling from ships’ submerged surfaces is an example of an activity with positive outcomes (e.g., maintaining optimal ship energy efficiency and decreased biosecurity risk) and unintended negative consequences (e.g., release of living organisms, biocides, and microplastics). Several approaches exist to mitigate these negative consequences, including debris capture, with primary and secondary treatment of removed particulate and dissolved materials. However, it is unlikely that these approaches will eliminate environmental risk. Policy makers should be aware of the full suite of risks related to ship IWC and the tradeoffs to consider when balancing mitigation approaches.
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Estimating total microplastic loads to the marine environment as a result of ship biofouling in-water cleaning
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Researchers estimated that the global shipping industry could be releasing thousands of tons of microplastics annually through the wear, maintenance, and cleaning of marine coatings on commercial vessels. Predictive modeling showed that bulk carriers are the largest contributors, and manual biofouling cleaning by divers generates more microplastics than mechanized cleaning systems with debris capture. The study highlights ship coatings as an underappreciated but substantial source of marine microplastic pollution.
Towards a Comprehensive Understanding of Microplastics and Antifouling Paint Particles from Ship-Hull Derusting Wastewater and Their Emissions into the Marine Environment
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Researchers conducted a systematic analysis of microplastics and antifouling paint particles found in wastewater from ship hull cleaning operations. They found that both types of particles are released in significant quantities during derusting, with antifouling particles being particularly toxic due to their high metal and biocide content. The study highlights ship maintenance activities as an important but often overlooked source of marine microplastic and toxic particle pollution.
Quantification and global emission estimates of antifouling paint-derived microplastics released during ship hull in-water cleaning
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When ships get their hulls scrubbed clean underwater to remove algae and barnacles, that process also scrapes off tiny plastic particles from the paint—an estimated 78 tons per year globally—which then end up in the ocean. The good news: treating the wastewater from this cleaning process before it's released can cut this plastic pollution by over 96%, showing a practical fix that could help reduce one more source of microplastics entering seafood and marine ecosystems that humans depend on.
Microplastic and biocide release from antifouling coatings during underwater ultrasonic cleaning
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When boats are cleaned underwater using sound waves to remove buildup, the cleaning process releases tiny plastic particles and toxic chemicals like copper into the water. Even gentle cleaning methods still released these harmful substances, though aggressive cleaning released much more. This matters because these microplastics and chemicals can end up in our food chain through fish and seafood we eat.
Understanding the potential release of microplastics from coatings used on commercial ships
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This review examined how polymer-based paints applied to commercial ships contribute to ocean microplastic pollution. The study found that anticorrosive and antifouling coatings shed plastic particles through normal weathering and in-water hull cleaning, with the extent of release depending on coating type, condition, and maintenance practices.
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