“How can we keep our tugboat’s cooling system free of fouling in saltwater, with less frequent cleaning and fewer downtimes?”
The Problem
The tugboat operates primarily in saltwater and suffered from severe, recurring fouling in its seawater cooling system, particularly in the inlets, filters (strainers), and crossover. This resulted in frequent cleaning, high maintenance costs, and downtime. The fouling kept recurring because small organisms and mussel larvae were able to pass through the filters and settle further down the system.
The solution
The ultrasonic antifouling system prevents the formation of biofilm and ensures that marine growth cannot attach to the cooling system. After installation, no significant fouling occurred for at least 13 months, resulting in stable cooling performance, reduced maintenance, and higher operational availability.
