"Any object submerged in water such as vessels, oil drilling or off- shore wind platforms and aquaculture equipment is subject to biofouling, the settlement of marine organisms. To prevent fouling and maintain the integrity of their assets, companies who own submerged assets use antifouling paints to slow biofouling formation in the attempt of fully preventing it. Even though antifouling paints are expensive, their use is estimated to prevent 25% of fuel consumption of the world fleet, representing savings of €51 billion per year in energy costs. Additionally, antifouling paints are used to save €3.7 billion in maintenance costs yearly. However 90% of existing antifouling paints contain toxic additives and current solutions are still not 100% effective even when integrating several biocides in their composition. The most used antifouling additive, copper, must be used with other co-biocides to ensure protection from biofouling. The main issue is therefore that currently used antifouling additives in marine paints are toxic to users and the environment, not 100% effective and costly.
BioMimetx R&D team is currently developing an antifouling additive for marine paints to prevent the formation of marine biofouling. BioMimetx is developing BMX-11, a ""green"" antifouling additive to be used as active ingredient in marine paints. BMX-11 is produced by BioMimetx proprietary bacterium in very specific and optimized conditions, and this mixture of natural molecules (proteins, peptides and metabolites) can be used as natural antimicrobials, algaecides and larvaecides. The outcome of this Phase 2 project will provide a fully developed, optimized and ""green"" paint-integrated BMX-11 antifouling additive for marine paints. BMX-11 is 100% biodegradable, cost effective and efficient, closing the existent technological gap.
According to the 'Blue Growth Strategy' (COM (2012) 494) a rapid technological progress in working offshore will increase the need to use antifouling solutions in the near future. However, it is essential to develop solutions that can be effective against fouling but environmental-friendly to prevent the increased accumulation of toxic chemicals in the water. Oceans cover 71% of the planet and deliver essential human necessities such as food and energy in a way that is more sustainable. Meeting environmental targets is also a source of innovation and growth and this is why new solutions such as BMX-11 are needed, it can replace the toxic copper and secondary pesticides that are being used in 90% of antifouling paints. Another important issue is the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Antifouling paints are thus necessary to assure easy and less fuel consuming maneuverability for seaborne transport. Paints using BMX-11 will be able to do this in an environmental-friendly way.
Globally, the use of antifouling solutions with BMX-11 will avoid impacts on the Sea and the environment in general, while being efficient against marine fouling. With BMX-11 in marine paints, we can provide an effective, cheaper and environmental-friendly solution to biofouling."
