Cruise season in the Southern Hemisphere is full steam ahead, but just under the surface lurks a small but not insignificant threat to the booming cruise ship industry: hull fouling.

Algae, barnacles, and mussels may not appear to be an issue in your average maritime environment, but when they adhere to the hull of cruise ships, they bring a host of problems that can leave cruise operators up at night.

“The environmental impact is hard to ignore,” says Davide Ippolito, Director of Solution Management at Hempel, when asked about the concerns of the cruise industry. “Hull fouling consists of living organisms that can inadvertently journey to new ecosystems, disrupting delicate marine environments. Just last year, several cruise ships were delayed or denied entry into ports in Australia and New Zealand, due to hull fouling. So, we see cruise ship operators grappling with the ethical, ecological, and regulatory implications of unintentionally introducing invasive species to foreign waters.”

“Secondly, hull fouling leads to increased operational costs. As the fouling disrupts the ship's hydrodynamics, more fuel is needed to maintain speed and efficiency – and cruise liners have a strict schedule to stick to. This, in turn, chips away at profit margins, impacting the financial health of cruise liners.”

Regulations speeding up

In the past year, more regulations and guidelines have come into effect, urging cruise ship operators to tackle biofouling. The IMO adopted the MEPC.378(80) (Guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species), and the Bahamas Maritime Authority issued a notice on the Control and Management of Ships' Biofouling.

With the threat of being denied access to some of the most pristine and beautiful maritime environments in the world looming overhead, cruise ship operators have to be prepared, or risk inviting the wrath of unsatisfied customers who have invested heavily in the trip of a lifetime.

“The fact remains that we will only see more of these regulations in the future, and solutions do already exist that enable cruise operators to manage fouling in a responsible manner,” explains Davide.

Implementing responsible hull management

So what options are available to operators to ensure a good night’s sleep, devoid of concerns around profit margins, ecological mishaps, or unsatisfied customers? “Cruise operators need to assess their technological toolbox to find the best way to implement a responsible hull management programme.” says Davide, going on to list three important considerations:

• Often isn’t always better

“The answer usually isn’t as simple as cleaning the hull as often as possible. If the fouling and other waste from cleaning isn’t properly disposed of, it still poses an environmental risk in marine environments.”

• Protect your coating

“When removing the fouling, beware how your chosen method affects your coating. A modern antifouling coating can be one of your best defences against fouling and inferior fuel performance but certain coatings, if not cleaned correctly, will perform less well, defeating the purpose of the cleaning in the first place.”

• Monitor, monitor, monitor

“Make sure to implement proactive monitoring of the hull performance to detect fouling pressure and any undesired increase in fuel consumption. This enables operators to minimise the need for cleaning so that it only happens when it’s necessary and before any fouling has escalated.”

“The right solution won’t be the same for everyone, but there are a lot of things operators can do today to prevent biofouling, while still being able to maximise ship efficiency,” concludes Davide.

So, armed with innovation, dedication, and a commitment to environmental stewardship, cruise ship operators can rest more easy at night and look towards a more efficient and responsible future of ocean travel.