PUBLISHER: Freight News (www.freightnews.co.za)
Keeping ships’ hulls free of just a thin layer of slime can reduce a ship’s GHG emissions by up to 25%, according to the preliminary findings of a new study, launched at COP 26 (November 4).
The preliminary findings of the study on the ‘Impact of Ships’ Biofouling on Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ reveals that a layer of slime as thin as 0.5 mm covering up to 50% of a hull surface can trigger an increase of GHG emissions in the range of 20 to 25%, depending on ship characteristics, speed and other prevailing conditions.