Experimental studies on the effect of different metallic substrates on marine biofouling

In the wake of adoption of the resolution by the International Maritime Organization to control biofouling on vessels, which is recognized as a major vector for transfer of invasive species, this study attempts to create a baseline data on major hard-shelled biofouling organisms in the harbour waters. This study was primarily focused towards understanding the biofouling and corrosion pattern on various metals and their performance under immersed condition in a marine environment, at 0.3 and 3.0 m depths. Furthermore, the study attempts to understand the surface dependent characteristics of barnacle base plate and its adhesion strength. Barnacle, mussels and oysters were the major fouling organisms accounting for 72.33% of the variation. Stainless steel and Titanium panels showed the highest average biofouling load of 176.36 and 168.35 g/300 cm2, respectively. The variance in biofouling between metals and depths was highly significant at p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively. Morphology of barnacle base plate interfacial surface varied between metals. Barnacles with 8–9 mm base diameter showed the maximum adhesion strength in shear of 6.86 ± 0.95 kPa.