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Quantification of paint flakes and metal emissions during pro-active in-water hull cleaning

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Pro-active in-water hull cleaning is a viable option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing the transportation of non-indigenous species. Conversely, pro-active in-water cleaning (IWC) might lead to the emission of antifouling paint particles and biocides, posing a risk to the marine environment. However, the analysis of these APPs is particularly challenging. We have therefore adapted a thermoanalytical approach using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to analyze the abrasion of APPs. In this approach, the mass of APPs is determined by analyzing the polymer backbone and external calibration. We investigated the particulate abrasion of antifouling coatings for one ship with a self-polishing coating, one with a foul-release coating and one with an abrasion-resistant coating, in order to evaluate the different abrasion behavior and the suitability of the respective coating types for pro-active IWC. In addition, the zinc and copper emissions were analyzed. The extrapolation of the abrasion for ships with 10,000 m 2 of wetted surface shows that both the abrasion-resistant coating and the foul-release coating release only small quantities of APPs during IWC, with 1.2–2.1∗10 −4 kg for the abrasion-resistant coating and 0.015 kg for the foul-release coating. The potential emissions for self-polishing coatings showed significantly higher abrasion with 1.9–4.3 kg. In addition, copper and zinc emissions showed the same distribution trends for the self-polishing coating samples and were between 2.2-9.5 and 1.1–3.2 mg/L, respectively, exceeding common water quality standards by far. These results demonstrate that caution is required when balancing the advantages and disadvantages of IWC, especially with regard to self-polishing coatings. Paint particles removed by cleaning on self-polishing coatings (SPC) silicone foul-release coating (FRC) and epoxy abrasion-resistant coating (ARC). • Quantification of abrasion by (pro-active) in-water cleaning. • Cleaning of SPCs release high concentrations of biocides and paint particles. • Cleaning of FRCs and ARCs results in low concentrations of paint particles. • Potential risk to the marine environment associated with in-water cleaning of ship hulls. • No substantial emissions during propeller-cleaning.
Source: Chemosphere
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144291
Authors: Marten Fischer, Donna-Lee Garrick, Katja von Bargen, Jennifer Mayer, Torben Kirchgeorg, Burkard T. Watermann
Language: English
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,010
OpenAlex ID: W4408194183
FWCI: 3.558
Cites: 42
Cited by: 9
Related to: 10