Do the big ships care about bottom cleaning?

[allied85259]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but what do the big container ships and Naval ships do about keeping their bottom clean? or do they care?

[redneckrob]

Originally Posted by allied85259

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but what do the big container ships and Naval ships do about keeping their bottom clean? or do they care?

It's serious money for them, they definitely care. However on the plus size when you spend the majority of the year sailing at 20+ knots it definitely helps minimize the fouling. Drydock and bottom paint takes care of the rest.

[jamhass]

They also tend to use bottom paints (and other anti-fouling methods) that us mortals are not allowed to use, or at least don't have the wherewithall to afford ...

[GreenWave]

Originally Posted by jamhass

They also tend to use bottom paints (and other anti-fouling methods) that us mortals are not allowed to use, or at least don't have the wherewithall to afford ...

Which is why the limiting rules applied to recreational boats is just dumb. By far the commercial quantity is much higher and likely has a bigger impact on the environment.

[Dave_S]

Some use foul release coatings are so smooth the organisms can't stay attached at speed and slide off. Some have no toxins.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by jamhass

They also tend to use bottom paints (and other anti-fouling methods) that us mortals are not allowed to use, or at least don't have the wherewithall to afford ...

For the most part, this is 100% untrue.

[ItDepends]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

For the most part, this is 100% untrue.

Mat is right, as usual. Commercial shipping use pretty much similar paint to recreational boats. There are differences, but they are more related to specifics of use patterns than anything else.

When he says "for the most part" what he is NOT saying is the exception is the Navy. They still get to use TBT paints. Why? Because the government makes the rules. They are quite happy to force a commercial operator of a super panamax to haul every 2 years for new paint, but we just CAN'T do that for an aircraft carrier, of course. It's obvious.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by ItDepends

When he says "for the most part" what he is NOT saying is the exception is the Navy. They still get to use TBT paints. Why? Because the government makes the rules.

While I appreciate the support, this statement is also untrue. Yes, the Navy is exempt from American laws governing anti fouling paint that the rest of us have to follow. This does not mean that the Navy uses TBT anti fouling paints. They do not, and here’s why: The Navy has to do business in ports of call all around the world. And in those places, the Navy is not exempt from the laws governing anti fouling paint.

[hpeer]

My understanding is that the most common commercial bottom paint is Ameron ABC3. It is ablative. I use this on the big boat. In Canada, Newfoundland, all I can get is ABC4. But in the cold water and short season some folks don't even use bottom paint.

[sailorboy1]

I just bottom painted last month and used the PPG ABC3 paint. It was "cheap" at $499/5-gal. So much less than the crap I used last time. It does say "commercial use only" on it, but the yard had no issue putting it on my boat and they had used before on others boat. In emails with PPG they pretty much said that the only reason it is commercial use only is that they don't care about recreational boats and didn't apply for the pesticide license. I bet the same could be said of the Sherwin Williams bottom paints.

BTW Navy ships go into dry dock and get cleaned and painted. We did once in the 3 years I was on submarine. But I don't believe there was even any in water cleaning done.

[LLCoolDave]

Tankers and large boats do get their hulls cleaned every now and then. I have a friend that did it for a living in Grenada.

https://youtu.be/fu4M-jsXX4U

This contraption looks a little more sophisticated than the video he showed me but the principle is the same.

[Gudgeon]

US Navy ships and Submarines get cleaned on a regular basis. There are specialized dive companies contracted to do this. Ther frequency varies for type of ships. The divers use surface fed air and helmets that incorporate communications. They have brushes also powered by air to scrub the hulls.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Gudgeon

They have brushes also powered by air to scrub the hulls.

Except that the brush carts are hydraulic, you are correct.

[kayakerChuck]

My better half just sent me an article about antifouling research.. It's amazingly helpful to have a chemistry professor around!

https://cen.acs.org/materials/coatin...search_results

[AKA-None]

I guess what we need are remoras that’ll do it for food