Happiness is a clean bottom
A clean bottom is an important asset. It allows optimum speeds, faster passage times and reduces fuel costs by minimising drag.
Drag can be significant in driving up costs. A recent British Navy report cites as much as 20% more energy being needed to push a dirty hull through the water. Considering recent and dramatic fuel price hikes, this can translate into lost operating margins for workboat owners.
Whereas in the past keeping a clean bottom meant drydocking and antifouling treatments, there is now another way to keep the hull pristine regardless of climate.
The new system from Ultrasonic works by an ingenious method of high frequency, low power sound waves transmitted via a couple of transducers which are bonded onto the inside of the hull. While they are completely harmless to people, animals and complex marine life, these sound waves create a wall of moving water molecules over the whole surface of the submerged hull, giving a micro-environment that kills algae and prevents barnacle growth.
Although there have been attempts at using sound waves before, the technology that Ultrasonic deploy is digital and far less power hungry than the older analogue versions. The system is effective on a wide range of hull materials although sadly, it does not work on wood.
Ultrasonic director David Sothcott explained, ‘Because a digital system can use more differing frequencies together, its range can destroy more algae types and it produces a much clearer ultrasonic sound wave. As technology advances, users will benefit from the most up to date and effective system and because we use a reprogrammable chip, we can modify the frequencies to suit the conditions, if and when they change.’
It might be imagined that the sound waves would create some kind of audible vibration, a misunderstanding which led to an interesting moment at the Southampton Boat Show last month. During a demonstration a low hum suddenly filled the Ultrasonic tent and a somewhat embarrassed Mr Sothcott had to point out that this was the sound of the coffee grinder on the stand next door, nothing to do with his device.
The other main advantage of the system is an ecological one, less anti-fouling treatment means less pollutant in the water. There is also a financial benefit. A once only payment for an Ultrasonic device is offset in only two years of scraping and paying for conventional antifouling treatment.
