Nanotechnology Research can Provide Smooth Ride for Ships on the Sea

25 February 2007

From the ocean comes new discoveries which, aided by Nanotechnology, can enable ships to have smoother sailing on the sea, with less environmental damage. Specifically, one major cause of friction has been acorn barnacles and crustaceans. These creatures can attach themselves to the hulls of sea-bound vessels, causing ocean friction and leading to increased fuel consumption. However, a team of researchers have discovered that an extract from the fungus Streptomyces avermitilis can be added to the boat’s exterior paint and provide a deterrent to the sea creatures.

Streptomyces avermitilis is very poisonous to these barnaces. It directly affects their nervous system. Researchers have discovered that adding as little as 0.1 percent mixture of extract from this fungus into boat paint can prevent acorn barnacles from growing on the boat’s hulls. Nanotechnology, which deals in all things very small, makes such an extraction possible and practicable.

The new type of fungal-derived paint is both good for fuel consumption and good for the environment as well. With no barnacles on the ship’s hull, the boat enjoys a smoother ride with reduced friction and less fuel consumption and fuel emissions. Additionally, it has been found that this extract is good for the environment in another way as well. While attached to the hull of the ship, the paint is poisonous to the barnaces, but when dissolved in water, it loses its toxic properties, thus preventing injury to any other sea creatures. This is in stark contrast with other paints which, when dissolved in water, remain toxic at sea.

Nanotechnology paves the way for these kinds of extracts to be derived from biological organisms and added to consumer products. The end result is a clean, effective product that remains environmentally safe yet is powerful as well.

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