AQUATERRAS coating proven environmentally safe

The study, conducted by PML Applications, the commercial arm of Plymouth Marine Laboratory, revealed that AQUATERRAS has no negative impact on marine life, including zero mortality among marine invertebrates, even after simulated in-water hull cleaning procedures.

The trial, which concluded in August 2024, exposed marine organisms living in estuarine sand and mud to flakes of the AQUATERRAS biocide-free self-polishing coating. Despite the unavoidable particle abrasion that occurs during the in-water cleaning process, the results showed that AQUATERRAS did not harm the marine organisms tested.

“Our tests showed no adverse effects on either ragworms or bivalve cockles after 28 days of exposure to AQUATERRAS coating particles,” said Dr Tom Vance, chief operating officer of PML Applications.

“The bivalves continued to gain weight and grow, with no significant difference in growth rates compared to the control group. Similarly, ragworms gained weight throughout the 28-day trial with no significant differences from controls.

The study also simulated in-water hull cleaning on AQUATERRAS-coated panels using a variety of methods and found that zinc and copper levels remained at background levels across all cleaning methods, confirming no release of these metals from the coating.

AQUATERRAS is a low-friction, biocide-free, self-polishing coating that helps maintain a smooth hull surface for up to 90 months. By reducing friction between the hull and water, it reportedly offers up to 14.7% in fuel savings compared to market averages.