Welcome to the eSHaRk Project

Powered by EU-funding, a consortium consisting of the world’s leading marine experts and engineers are working together to create an innovative new fouling protection system for commercial seagoing vessels, and to accelerate its entry to market. This project is called eSHaRk (Eco-friendly Ship Hull film system with fouling release and fuel saving properties).

The eSHaRk project aims to bring a greener and more efficient anti-fouling solution to the market. This innovative new technology not only maintains current fouling protection standards but is superior to existing solutions in terms of eco-friendliness, ease of application, durability and drag-reduction, all of which will lead to fuel savings and a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Partners

The eShark project is conducted by an industry-led consortium, which includes the following partners:

The Innovation

Fouling has the effect of increasing the hull’s resistance to movement as it sails through the water. This friction can seriously hamper a ship’s operational efficiency and increase fuel consumption by as much as 50%, leading to additional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a greater carbon footprint.

As fuel consumption represents around half the operational costs of the marine transport industry, fouling can also have significant economic costs for ship owners, and be detrimental to the industry’s competitiveness with other transport modes.

Project News

PPG working with industry partners to develop innovative eco-friendly ship hull film system

23rd May 2016

Pittsburgh, May 23, 2016 – PPG's (NYSE: PPG) protective and marine business has received EU Funding for an exciting new project which aims to produce an innovative fouling protection system for commercial vessels.