Dry-Dock Inspection Methods for Improved Fouling Control Coating Performance

Abstract

Dry docking is the scheduled time when the fouling control coating is assessed, the hull refurbished, and new coatings applied. The decisions made during this period will affect the performance of the ship for several years. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has funded research at the Florida Institute of Technology to develop a strategy to improve the selection, application, and management of ship hull coatings. The purpose of the research was threefold: establish an in-house baseline of performance to improve selection, maintenance, and life cycle costs of the different commercially available coatings; improve quality control of dry-dock procedures to include surface preparation and coating application; and insure that the ships are operating in compliance with both local and international regulations. The paper will present the methods that are available to measure specific aspects of the dry-dock process and how this data may be used for quality control and coating selection.