en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Endfouling project in Valencia, Spain, has been launched with the participation of the Plastics Technology Institute (Aimplas), BiotechVana, the Valenciaport Foundation (Fundación Valenciaport), and Seroil Valencia. The project aims to develop new sustainable solutions that protect ships and improve maritime transport efficiency by utilizing organic waste generated in port environments.
Biofouling, caused by the accumulation of marine organisms on hulls and other underwater structures, increases friction between the ship and water, leading to higher fuel consumption and increased pollutant emissions. According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approximately 9% of the fuel consumed by ships is related to these marine attachments, and this increased energy consumption could generate 80 to 90 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
The project is researching how to obtain new bio-based additives from organic waste derived from port activities to help prevent the formation of these attachments on ships and other marine structures. Funded by the Valencian Institute of Competitiveness and Innovation (Instituto Valenciano de Competitividad e Innovación), the project aims to transform waste that is typically discarded into new materials with added value for the maritime sector, while reducing the environmental impact associated with port activities and ship maintenance.
Many existing solutions for combating biofouling have limitations or rely on chemical components. This initiative focuses on developing bio-based alternatives that can be integrated into materials used for ships to provide more durable and sustainable protection. The project is developing enzyme- and microorganism-based solutions capable of hindering the appearance of marine attachments at an early stage, and utilizes artificial intelligence and bioinformatics tools to optimize the performance and effectiveness of these compounds.
Another line of work in the project involves developing protection systems that allow these bio-based additives to be integrated into plastic materials for the maritime sector without losing their activity. The project also includes prototyping and testing under real conditions to evaluate the performance of the developed solutions on ships and marine structures.
Reducing biofouling on ships not only lowers fuel consumption and pollutant emissions but also improves the maintenance and lifespan of marine structures. Through this initiative, the participating parties aim to promote new innovative solutions that better utilize resources generated in ports and move towards a more sustainable maritime model.
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