No vessel escapes the silent enemy lurking below…
Physical methods try to fight biofouling by changing surface properties or cleaning it away. Low-energy surfaces and color tricks can make barnacles less eager to stick, but the effect is limited. Scraping and high-pressure jets work for a while, yet they are costly, time-consuming, and often damage the hull.
Bio-inspired surfaces take lessons from nature. Micro-patterns that mimic shark skin or seashells make it difficult for organisms to settle, providing a clean, non-toxic method to resist fouling. But their large-scale production and long-term stability in seawater remain challenging.
Chemical methods seem more powerful. Coatings with biocides or copper compounds can stop barnacles and algae from attaching. But this comes at a price — toxic release, heavy-metal pollution, and serious harm to marine life.
