The Dutch maritime technology company Micanti has designed a 100 per cent environmentally friendly antifouling foil. Its working is based on small fibers, which make it unattractive for organisms to attach to the hull of a ship.
The innovative nature of this invention and the successful launch of it within the global professional shipping industry has provided Micanti with the title of the SME Innovation Top 100. The SME Innovation Top 100 is the biggest innovation award of the Netherlands.
Thorn-D Foil
The so-called Thorn-D foil was developed by Micanti’s founder dr.ir. Rik Breur. The millions of tiny fibers or hairs on the foil are resilient and vibrate constantly by the water movement. This combination of prickliness and swaying of the fibers makes the surface unattractive for organisms to settle.
The nylon fibers are similar to the spiky hairs that organisms have to combat fouling. With Thorn-D, it is possible to prevent all sorts of macro-growth (think of mussels, barnacles, algae) to from settling. The antifouling has a lifespan of at least five years and works both as the ship sails and when it is moored.
The product ha been commercially available to ships worldwide since 2012.
