A boat being lifted out of the water, its hull bottom and propeller showing

Ships

Making ship propellers harder for barnacles and algae to grip.

We hold back the barnacles and algae that grow on ship propellers and other parts by working on the material’s surface.

For boat owners, shipyards and marine parts makers

The problem

Fouling on a ship’s underwater surfaces is known to increase fuel use (source: IMO). Once barnacles and algae have settled, removing them takes work too.

The bottom of a boat out of the water, thick with shellfish and algae — Kurahashi Island, Kure (April 2025)

What we do

We treat the surface of propellers and other parts with plasma and bond a fluorine-based antifouling agent to it, leaving a surface barnacles and algae struggle to grip. We use no copper, silver or other biocides.

How the treatment works

Ship propellers (brass)

In KAKEN grant 22K04725 (fiscal 2022–2024), led by Professor Kuroda, our technical supervisor, a treated brass propeller was fitted to a boat and tested in the sea at Kure (Marine Craft Kazenoko). The published report says fouling on the propeller was held back; the boat it was fitted to ran almost every day, and part of the treatment wore away within five months.

Source: Published report of KAKEN grant 22K04725

The same test went on after the period of the report; at 12 months, barnacles and algae were taking hold on the propeller less readily.