Numéro : 2820 - Year : 2025
Fouling in the design of military ships
Hélène BIGAUD, Didier NADAUD - Naval Group – Architecture Navires Armés Bâtiments de Surface – Lorient (France)
Fouling represents a major challenge to naval operability
The presence of fouling on the hull can significantly reduce a vessel’s speed -by several knots, depending on the type and extent of the biofouling. Additionally, the development and accumulation of fouling in seawater circuits can lead to partial obstruction of pipes, resulting in reduced flow rates and decreased heat exchange efficiency. Some hull sensors can also be affected by fouling deposits on their bases (e.g., log sensor), which can lead to the loss of certain functions that use the information from these sensors.
The fouling phenomenon varies according to geographical area, influenced by factors such as seawater temperature and nutrient concentration. Furthermore, the rate at which fouling develops is closely tied to the vessel’s time at sea: the longer a ship remains inactive (at dock or at anchor), the faster fouling tends to accumulate.
Unlike commercial vessels, military ships typically operate within limited geographic areas, which favors the growth of localized fouling species without the mitigating effects of environmental variation (such as colder or nutrient-poor waters). In addition, military vessels generally have a lower operability rate than their commercial counterparts, further increasing their exposure to fouling.
These operational characteristics therefore call for a tailored approach to fouling prevention and management, one that is specifically adapted to the unique operating profiles of military vessels.
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