Anti-fouling paint a winner for marine environment
News Item
- Date:
- 20 July, 2005
A team of DSTO scientists has won a major award for its work in anti-fouling paints for the Royal Australian Navy. The 2005 Defence Environment and Heritage award recognises the huge impact the work will have on improving the global marine environment.
-
- John Lewis and his team
Mr John Lewis and his team from DSTO's Biofouling Control & Environmental Compliance group were presented with the award on 21 June at a ceremony in Canberra.
“The great part of this project is that our success in driving an international ban on the use of tributyltin or TBT coatings – and replacing it with a new coating - has been achieved without compromising Navy’s performance and operations,” senior research scientist, Mr Lewis explained.
“It has also recognised DSTO as international leader in environmental management through its knowledge and understanding of anti-fouling technology and the potential environmental impact,” he added. “It will effectively save time, money and effort especially in no longer having to dispose of contaminated wastes from shipyards undertaking maintenance; and reducing future costs of dredging harbours where TBT contamination wastes are captured.”
In the 1970s, organotin copolymer anti-fouling paints were developed that provided five or more years of protection for ships and were considered environmentally safe. Organotins released from anti-fouling paints were subsequently found to be environmentally damaging with TBT, the most commonly used organotin anti-fouling agent, claimed to be the most toxic compound intentionally introduced into the marine environment.
“This discovery was made during the 1980s and in 1988 DSTO initiated a comprehensive program to identify and manage the impacts of Navy usage of TBT paints and seek more environmentally acceptable and effective anti-fouling alternatives,” Mr Lewis said.
DSTO research identified an anti-fouling paint, without TBT, that reproduces the same performance that is a far safer alternative, and without any change to maintainence procedures.
However, the DSTO program has not ended with the introduction of the new anti-fouling coating. Concerns continue that all anti-fouling biocides may cause harm to the marine environment and the DSTO is now focusing on the performance and application of biocide-free coatings and more innovative methods of biofouling prevention.
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is part of Australia's Department of Defence. DSTO's role is to ensure the expert, impartial and innovative application of science and technology to the defence of Australia and its national interests.