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Workshop on Strategies in the Use of Nontoxic Antifouling Additives The first of a series of workshops on Nontoxic Antifouling Strategies organized by Poseidon was held on April 11, 2003 at the Paradise Hotel in Pusan, South Korea. More than two dozen representatives from selected companies and research institutions in the Asia-Pacific region who are engaged in marine coatings and biofouling research attended the one-day workshop. “The workshop addressed issues concerning the commercial development of nontoxic antifouling systems for use by the marine paint industry,” said Dr. Jonathan Matias, Poseidon’s executive director. Experts in the field from the U.S., Korea, Germany, Hong Kong and India, addressed the workshop. Won Joon Shim, PhD., Research Fellow at the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute discussed the impact of toxic compounds, such as TBT on the marine ecosystem of Korea and the need for nontoxic alternatives. His talk was followed by a presentation by Qian Pei-Yuan, Professor of Biology at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr. Qian, discussed novel antifouling compounds from marine bacteria using bio-assay guided purification and identification. The methods are expected to yield unique compounds with industrial applications. Jonathan R. Matias, Poseidon’s executive director presented on behalf of Sister Avelin Mary, PhD. Director of Sacred Heart Marine Research Center in India. Sister Mary’s presentation discussed screening methods for bioactive substances at Poseidon’s testing center in Tuticorin, whose coastal environment is home to some of the most aggressive biofouling organisms. The types of fouling organisms encountered in immersion testing, the problems in interpreting data from panel/rod tests, and new dynamic test systems for experimental panels were discussed in the presentation. Various antifouling strategies and methods of testing using living organisms were discussed by Hyun-Woung Shin, PhD. of Soonchunhyang University’s Department of Marine Biology. Dr. Matias discussed the biological actions of Frescalin , Poseidon’s new antifouling additive that produces a nontoxic repellent action on barnacles. Frescalin acts presumably by rendering the surface unpleasant for attachment by barnacle larvae, without any toxic side effects. Dr. Ralf Pelzer, Global Director for Technology Transfer of Symrise GmbH, presented a new concept in the inhibition of barnacle settlement by interfering with calcium channels. This, he said, has led to a broad range of cooling compounds that possess antifouling properties The renewed interest in the development of metal-free coatings for use by the marine industry has been prompted by the worldwide ban on the use of tributyl tin, which took effect on January 1, 2003. The presence of organotin is to be banned on all ships by January 1, 2008. Korea was selected as the site of the workshop since it ranks number one in the world for shipbuilding orders. The country’s nine shipbuilding companies already have orders for 494 ships, worth two-and-a-half years of labor. Back to Archived News
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