Development of detection method for biofilm adhesion on ship hull

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26630462
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Naval and maritime engineering
• Research Institution: National Maritime Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Fujimoto Shuhei 国立研究開発法人 海上技術安全研究所, その他部局等, 研究員 (80586686)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 生物付着 / バイオフィルム / 画像解析 / 可視化観測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Biofouling on ship’s hull causes increase of frictional resistance and fuel cost. In addition the fouling on ship’s hull may cause cross-border transfer of alien organism. To avoid such consequences, simple and low cost inspection technique to quantify the fouling is needed. Aimed at application to actual ship, detection method for biofilm adhesion was developed. The detection method is based on image analysis and applicable for transparent biofilm by using transmitted light in the film. Growth process of biofilm in an open channel was observed by in-situ measurement. It was shown that adhesion of biofilm is affected by flow field around the film.

Free Research Field

船舶保守管理