Hull Surface Treatment (HST) technology is a new environmentally friendly hull cleaning technology for treating the growth on a ship's hull.

It uses no chemicals, detergents or substances which are foreign or harmful to the marine environment. HST instantly kills growth which is then abraded in open seas.
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A comprehensive presentation was made to the Marine Pest Sectoral Committee (MPSC) on 9 November, 2011 in Brisbane on the subject of HST Bio-Security.

The Marine Pest Sectoral Committee develops and coordinates the implementation of harmonised, national arrangements to identify, minimise and address the pest risk to Australia’s marine environment and associated industries, and plays an advocacy role within Government for highlighting the impact of marine pests on Australia’s marine environment and associated industry.

Niche Areas where Bio-Fouling can Accumulate

Illustration adapted from a diagram provided by Mermaid Marine Australia Ltd.
Images: John Polglaze, URS Australia (Sea Chest) John Polglaze, URS Australia courtesy of Helix ESG (Bow Thruster) Wallace McFarlane, QLD DPI (External Cooling Pipes)

The committee’s objectives are to develop, coordinate, implement and monitor national activities to address marine pest related bio-security issues; provide expert scientific, technical and policy advice on marine pest related bio-security issues to the National Bio-security committee (NBC); provide leadership in the implementation of the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions; develop and implement arrangements to support and enhance the national capacity to respond to outbreaks of introduced marine pests; engage stakeholders in the development and implementation of national activities.

Representatives from the following agencies were present:-

*South Australia Bio-security.
* W.A. Fisheries.
* DAFF.
* QLD Bio-security.
* MAF New Zealand.
* CSIRO.
* ABARES.
* Ports Australia.
* Shipping Australia Limited.
* National Bulk Commodities Group.
* Yachting Australia.
* AMSA.
* DSTO

Entitled...“HST – The Impact of Thermal Shock on Bio-Fouling and Bio-Security”...the committee was informed of the extensive research and work undertaken by T&C Marine and Commercial Diving Services on the impact of thermal shock to all levels of bio-fouling occurring in niche areas on the underwater surface of vessels. HST Bio-security was the subject of a recent thesis undertaken through the School of Marine Science at the UOW where it was proven that the application of heated sea-water (thermal shock) via the HST Bio-security applicator was fatal to all tertiary bio-fouling contained within the sea-chest.

HST also has a significant role to play in the reduction of propulsive fuel penalties associated with the resistance attributable to the additional hydrodynamic friction caused by bio-fouling. A proactive in-water hull maintenance program will ensure the level of bio-fouling remains low, delivering a more fuel efficient vessel and greatly reducing the risk of non-indigenous marine pests translocating via hull fouling.