Page 19: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2022)

Armach’s Hull Service Robot (HSR) is designed for removal of microfouling: the soft brushes it uses are designed speci? cally to remove slime without damaging the coating system.

Imiage courtesy Armach Robotics ings. Ship hull biofouling has been identi? ed as a signi? cant damage to the coating system. A proactive regimen using soft vector for invasive species. More speci? cally, macrofouling is tools can help ensure the coating system, and particularly the the threat. Macrofouling organisms are mature and able to re- anti-corrosive component, stays intact longer, reducing the risk produce, and if released in a new environment, can potentially of corrosion issues to the hull. colonize and threaten the local ecosystem. Microfouling, on And ? nally, all proactive cleaning conducted by Armach will the other hand, consists of either immature organisms that are result in the provision of imagery documenting the before and of no threat if dislodged, or are pelagic in nature and either after condition of the hull, at a minimum. This will be covered ubiquitous or are of no concern to the littoral, port environ- in greater detail in the ? nal article in this series, but will ensure ments. A proactive cleaning regimen will ensure that a vessel vessel owners are provided with an unprecedented amount of never leaves port with more than the earliest stages of growth, information on the condition of their vessel’s hull. allowing it to arrive at the next port in a similar state.

Now as countries start enacting more stringent regulations,

The Author such as Australia’s recent Australian biofouling management requirements, participation in a proactive cleaning program

Lander will become more bene? cial as vessels will be able to demon-

Karl Lander is the Director, Regulatory

Compliance and Outreach at Armach strate they have been recently cleaned.

Robotics. He joined Armach follow-

With many vessel owners looking for ways to extend the ing 4+ years with Greensea Systems, time between dry dock maintenance periods, Armach’s pro- where he was Director, Hull Robotics. active cleaning solution can aid in increasing the life of the coating system. Removal of macrofouling can often result in www.marinelink.com 19

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