Antifouling Paint

Antifouling paint is a hull coating that releases or presents a biocide to stop marine organisms from settling, preserving the smooth hull that keeps fuel consumption down. After organotin tributyltin was banned for its severe non-target toxicity, copper compounds with booster biocides became standard, alongside biocide-free foul-release silicone coatings. Self-polishing copolymer paints release biocide at a controlled rate as the outer layer wears.