The Paint Patch Trials Project

The Paint Patch Trials Project (PPT) was initiated as a Natural Heritage Trust funded cooperative project between the Australian Shipowners Association, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), the Australian Paint Manufacturers Federation and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to trial new tributyltin (TBT) free anti-fouling paint on commercial ships. The results have demonstrated the new TBT free paint to be an effective alternative.

Anti-fouling systems on ships are necessary in order to reach and maintain required speeds more efficiently, minimising fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and saving time and money. Further, a clean hull, free of bio-foul helps to prevent marine pest incursions and domestic translocation of marine pests from port to port.

From the 1960’s TBT, a toxic organotin compound, was the active ingredient in anti-fouling paint for both commercial and recreational vessels. Although a very effective anti-fouling agent, TBT was found to leach into the water column in ports and marinas, having devastating impacts on marine life.

In response to the issue the states and the Northern Territory banned the use of TBT on vessels less than 24 meters in length and in 2002 Australia became a signatory to the IMO Anti-Fouling System Convention , 2001.  This convention enters into force on 17 September, 2008.  From this date TBT will no longer be allowed to be present on ships in Australian ports, unless sealed to prevent it leaching into the environment.

Coinciding with the international and domestic banning of TBT containing anti-fouling paints, the PPT presented a significant opportunity to independently test the effectiveness of some of the emerging TBT alternative paint on ships under commercial conditions. Important project outcomes include increasing industry confidence in the new tin-free anti-fouling paints, assisting with approval for use and sale of the products in Australia and increasing the number of available products on the market.

Four ships the MV Lady Kari-Ann, the MV Iron Monarch, the MV Iron Chieftain and the MV Alltrans, all engaged in different voyages along the east coast of Australia, were painted with three to five patches of different tin-free anti-fouling paints in 2001/2002.

To assess the performance of the paint over time, in water hull inspections were scheduled for twelve month intervals following paint application. Underwater still images and video footage of each of the paint patches (TBT free) and the main hull system (TBT) were taken and samples of any organisms found attached to the patches were collected.

The project successfully demonstrated that tin-free antifouling systems can provide effective fouling prevention on ships for up to 5 years, and that overall performance is not significantly different to that of TBT systems.  This enables shipowners to maintain 3 to 5 year docking cycles without appreciable loss in performance.  It also demonstrated that the use of high performance tin-free systems will not increase the risks of translocation of marine pests on ship hulls through these paints being less effective than TBT SPC systems.

This is good news for industry and the environment.

To view the final report click here.

For more information on the Paint Patch Trials project please contact Angela Gillham at the Australian Shipowners Association on phone: 03 9646 0755 or email: angela.gillham@asa.com.au

 

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Contact info:

Australian Shipowners Association
Level 1, 4 Princes Street
Port Melbourne
VIC, 3207

Telephone: 613 9647 6000
Facsimile: 613 9646 2256