Articles | Volume 14, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-661-2018
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-661-2018
Research article
 | 
18 Jul 2018
Research article |  | 18 Jul 2018

Low salinity as a biosecurity tool for minimizing biofouling on ship sea chests

Maria Cecilia T. de Castro, Thomas Vance, Anna L. E. Yunnie, Timothy W. Fileman, and Jason M. Hall-Spencer

Cited articles

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Short summary
Biofouling results from the colonization of bacteria, algae or animals over natural or synthetic surfaces at sea. Biofouling affects ships' performance negatively, and usual practices to avoid it are related to the use of biocides to intoxicate or prevent the adherence of these organisms. Here, we demonstrated that the use of low salinity for short periods of time can effectively kill these organisms and can be incorporated into vessels' operation routine without causing delay or extra cost.