Could Sharks Help Save Shipping Industry Billions?

Whales, sharks, butterflies and lotus leaves might together hold the secret to saving the shipping industry millions and help save the planet, according to a marine biologist at the University of Portsmouth, UK.

Environmental microbiologist Dr Maria Salta is examining how on land and at sea, nature's ability to self-clean might give scientists a window into solutions which could be used on humanmade objects at sea.
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In addition to her expertise in marine biofilms, Dr Salta specialises in environmentally friendly anti-fouling coatings which mimic natural systems to stop marine growth on ship hulls.
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It is estimated that the cost associated with hull fouling for the US Navy alone is $US56m a year, and anti-fouling coatings contribute to greenhouse emission reductions of 384 million and 3.6 million tonnes per year for carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, respectively.  The International Maritime Organization estimates that without corrective action and the introduction of new antifouling technologies, greenhouse gas emissions could increase from 38 per cent to 72 per cent by 2020.

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