Engines Off For Clean Hulls

Scientists at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and Auckland University have found a possible answer to a multi-million-dollar problem for shipping companies around the world. Switching off a vessel’s generator when it is berthed and using a shore-based electricity supply may significantly reduce the problem of marine fouling, caused by marine organisms — attracted to underwater vessel noise — settling on ships’ hulls and propellers. “We found mussel larvae exposed to the high intensity vessel sound settled and metamorphosed a lot quicker than the ones in the silent treatment; significantly quicker,” NIWA biosecurity scientist Dr Serena Wilkens said.