Figure: CIRCE was inspected in December 2000 and was treated in April 2000 with SealCoat for fouling and osmosis control. The photo on the left shows the boat while it is being lifted up for inspection.

When a boat remains idle for any length of time, fouling can develop at an unbelievable rate. Other factors encouraging the growth of fouling are warmth, light and generally dirty water, hence the huge increase in the rate of growth of fouling during the summer period - especially at the waterline level, where green algae can always be seen. The solution to this major problem is the use of anti-fouling paints. Unfortunately the biocide leaching antifouling paints, besides keeping our keels clean, cause irreparable damage to the inhabitants of the sea, completely interrupting their very chain of existence. These strong biocides, which are used to prevent fouling, are chemical compounds, such as copper or TBT.

The most well-known antifouling paints may be classified as follows:
a) Conventional. b) Long life. c) Self-polishing.
And all of these are divided into categories, depending on the speed of the vessel and the weather conditions of the area.

Conventional antifouling paints are composed of resins and biocides that are water-soluble, thus preventing the development of fouling. Their life span is between 6 to 12 months. On the other hand, Long life antifouling paints contain non-soluble resins and release only biocides, thus they last longer than the conventional type - between 12 and 36. And the Self Polishing type are composed of different layers which are successively dissolved into the water - the biocide chemicals (TBT) that they contain actually make them more effective during the period of their span life, the length of which is strongly related to the thickness of the applied layers.

It is thus very obvious that in our effort to keep the hulls of our boats clean, we are irreparably contaminating the marine environment, the seas that we swim in, the beaches we sit on, and finally even our own life cycle.

Figure: Mr. Kjell Alm, the Swedish inventor of the non-toxic SealCoat antifouling while the Greek press is interviewing him in Kalamaki marina


Greenpeace has been measuring the contents of the Greek seas, and these measurements have shown huge amounts of cancerous biocides that come from extended use of biocide antifouling, especially in marinas with navigation and shipbuilding activities. The situation, according to Greenpeace, is at a dangerously high level.

The IMO, understanding how these tragic consequences are effecting the planet as a whole, have decided to ban the use of biocide leaching antifouling paints, starting with TBT as from the beginning of the year 2003, whilst the ban on the use of heavy metals, such as TIN & COPPER, is anticipated to be bought into force very shortly. It is not a coincidence that the declaration made after the World Summit Meeting for the protection of the environment, which took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 stated that: "As soon as an environmentally friendly substitute for the present poisonous antifouling paints becomes available in the open market, all of the antifouling presently in use, should, and will be banned at once."

Until today it seems that there are three "clean" alternative solutions ready to replace the toxic antifouling paints:

1. Cleaning system with brushes
2. Teflon-Silicon
3. SealCoat System - the micro fiber system which resembles the velvet-like skin of the seal.

The Cleaning system with brushes is not a new idea, but it is spreading day by day. However, in warm climates where frequent cleaning is necessary, this simple and practical method is becoming economically ineffective and is a short-term solution only.

The Teflon-Silicon paints have entered into almost every known facet of the paint industry, and their philosophy is based on a slippery and greasy-like surface. These paints create a smooth and greasy membrane that the microorganisms cannot grip firmly onto, finally becoming detached with the speed of the boat. On the one hand, production costs of this type of paint is very high, and thus they have a high retail price. And on the other, "special'' conditions are required during their application. Some of the samples of the Teflon-Silicone paints have raised doubts regarding their resistance against friction and their adhesion abilities to the keel of the boat.

Figure: The photo on the left shows CIRCE during the display of the results, while people from the marine field, press as well as Greenpeace representatives were present.


The SealCoat System uses biocide free epoxy resin as a bonding agent that seals the surface, and the finishing layer consists of synthetic micro-fibers that protrude slightly from the epoxy layers, thus resembling the velvet-like skin of the seal. SealCoat works mechanically due to the movement of the fibers in the water, even when the boat remains idle. In this way the microorganisms find it difficult to attach themselves to the coated surface, finally becoming detached, either during the movement of the ship or due to their growing weight.

The Epoxy substrate is a complete solution providing protection against corrosion, osmosis and exceptional resistant to mechanical wear and friction. The system can provide five years of continuous and effective fouling protection, and can be applied to all kinds of surfaces, such as steel, aluminum, plastic, wood, fiberglass etc. SealCoat is suitable for all types of boats (sailing or cruisers), and especially for those that retain their full displacement when cruising. It has been proven that during the long life of the SealCoat System, friction between the keel and the sea, due to the growth of fouling, is reduced, thus resulting in an improvement in fuel consumption and efficiency.

It can be seen that speed boats, when travelling at very high speeds, have part of their hull out of the water. On this occasion a loss of speed might be observed. However, this loss of speed is also observed a few weeks after the application of a conventional antifouling paint. Speed boats do not have an equally distributed even and smooth water flow on the whole coated hull, on the contrary, there are accumulated water pressures and frictions only in particular areas of the keel.

However, with the SealCoat System the keel remains clean and its condition is not aggravated as the years pass by. Apart from its ecological character, SealCoat has many other advantages such as:

• Long life span of up to 5 years
• Complete insulation that provides protection against all kinds of corrosion, such as oxidation and osmosis
• Complete control of the quality of the materials and their application since only authorized bands of workers certify and issue a written warranty for 3-5 years against deterioration.
• The successful worldwide use of the material in both cold and warm climates, as well as its certification from national organizations and classification societies.
• Minor requirements for annual maintenance
• Cost effective, bearing in mind material-work-life span

Figure: CIRCE after having been cleaned from the minor green algae and slime with low water pressure is ready to sail back again into the seas with no more osmosis problems


SealCoat is available in a large variety of colors, and the vessel can remain either in or out of the water for unlimited periods of time without its functionality being effected whatsoever. Moreover, many ship-owners use SealCoat in the internal parts of the boat as an insulating material, fire retarding, decorative floor system or even as a solution to reducing noise in the engine room. Most important of all though, is that SealCoat keeps our seas clean, without biocides and toxins, and its participation in the fight against pollution is designated as "priceless" from the people that are aware of the present situation in the marine environment.