International.
Almouj Marina, a marine hub and yacht destination in Oman, announced good results from an experiment to create eco-friendly antifouling for ships.
The field experiment that was conducted at Almouj Marina and in collaboration with researchers from Sultan Qaboos University, has successfully developed a non-toxic coating that has proven to be as effective as commercial antifouling paints without endangering the environment. The project, the first of its kind in the region, could help preserve Oman's unique marine environment and save millions of dollars a year from the maritime industry.
The nano-coating developed during the experiment at Almouj Marina, is technologically improved and can cover more surface with less material. Produced with the help of nanotechnology, the achieved coating reduces the impact of biological pollution on waterways, marine life, maintenance costs and fuel consumption.
Dr. Sergey Dobretsov, Head of the Department of Marine Sciences and Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University, said that "biological pollution is a major problem for the marine industry, incurring worldwide for more than 13.63 million euros per year to control the problem. Oman, in particular, has a lot of biological pollution thanks to its long coastal areas. Today, most manufacturers produce toxic antifouling paints that gradually release toxic chemicals and harm any organisms that come into contact with it, in addition to polluting the marine environment. As such, the development of an environmentally friendly coating will bring great benefits to Oman, ranging from maintaining wildlife and ecosystems to significantly reducing costs."
