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The SAFER joint research laboratory, led by Nautix and the University of South Brittany, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Behind this anniversary lies work that began much earlier, as far back as 1993, focusing on coatings for boat hulls. For both the shipyard and the researchers, the challenge remains a practical one: limiting the attachment of marine organisms while adapting the formulations to meet health and environmental requirements.
A collaboration that began before the creation of LabCom
The relationship between Nautix and the University of South Brittany did not begin in 2015 with the official launch of the LabCom SAFER. Their first joint projects date back to 1993. This continuity has allowed the teams to track the evolution of antifouling paints over several decades. Formulations have changed, as have the expectations of recreational boaters, marine industry professionals, and the authorities responsible for evaluating biocidal products.
The joint laboratory has organized this research around a shared program. Chemists, biologists, and materials scientists are thus working with Nautix?s industrial teams on issues directly related to the use of boats.
Understanding Biofilm Formation on Ship Hulls
Before algae, shellfish, and other visible organisms appear, a biofilm forms on submerged surfaces. This microscopic layer is the first stage of hull fouling.
Research conducted as part of the SAFER project aims, in particular, to better understand these mechanisms. For an antifouling paint manufacturer, this knowledge makes it possible to adjust the paint?s matrix, its erosion rate, and the release of active ingredients. This topic is of direct interest to recreational boaters. A fouled hull increases hydrodynamic drag, reduces speed, and can lead to higher fuel consumption on a motorboat. On a sailboat, even a few millimeters of fouling is enough to degrade sailing performance.
But effectiveness is no longer the only criterion. The condition of the hull, the sailing area, the frequency of use, and the boat's speed must also be taken into account when choosing an antifouling paint.
Tests conducted under conditions similar to those encountered during navigation
The partnership is based on Gyrofoul, a testing platform that allows researchers to observe how coatings behave when submerged and in motion. This equipment simulates some of the stresses encountered by a ship?s hull. It allows researchers to compare different formulations, measure their resistance, and study the gradual colonization by marine organisms.
These tests complement the laboratory analyses. A coating may yield satisfactory results on a static test specimen but react differently when exposed to flowing water, temperature fluctuations, or salinity.
For research teams, the goal is therefore to bring scientific testing closer to real-world use. For manufacturers, this data helps guide the development of formulations before they are brought to market.
Marketing Authorizations at the Heart of the Case
Antifouling paints containing active ingredients are subject to regulations governing biocidal products. Their sale requires a marketing authorization, often referred to by the acronym AMM.
The renewal of these authorizations represents an important milestone for a manufacturer. It requires providing data on the product?s efficacy, its composition, its conditions of use, and its effects on the environment and human health. The work conducted by LabCom SAFER contributed to the renewal of the marketing authorizations for Nautix?s antifouling product lines. It provides scientific data on how the paints work and how they behave in the marine environment.
For shipyards, applicators, and distributors, this regulatory framework also requires careful attention to proper usage. Adherence to application rates, drying times, protective equipment requirements, and application instructions is an integral part of hull treatment. And no, applying an extra coat at random is no substitute for reading the technical data sheet.
Reducing the impact without sacrificing effectiveness
Research on antifouling coatings is at the intersection of several constraints. The coating must remain effective for a sufficient period of time, withstand immersion, and limit fouling of the hull. But it must also minimize the release of substances into the water. The work therefore focuses on striking a balance between effectiveness, the amount of active ingredients, and the behavior of the matrix. A formulation that is too soluble wears away quickly. A matrix that is too hard may lose effectiveness on a boat that is not used frequently.
The SAFER program studies these parameters in order to tailor coatings to different usage profiles. A sailboat moored in a harbor for several months, a RIB launched only occasionally, and a workboat do not face the same stresses or follow the same sailing patterns.
This diversity explains why the market continues to offer several families of paints, including hard-matrix antifouling paints and erodible formulations. The choice depends on the type of boat, the surface, the speed, and the mooring area.
A search tool for a small marine business
Founded in 1980 and based in Guidel, in the Morbihan department, Nautix employs 25 people. The company manufactures paints and products for boat maintenance. It generates approximately 40% of its revenue from exports.
For an SME of this size, a shared laboratory provides access to expertise and testing resources that would be difficult to secure in-house. The university, for its part, benefits from real-world industrial challenges, testing facilities, and feedback from the field.
After ten years of operation, LabCom SAFER is therefore continuing its in-depth research on hull coatings. It?s a topic that tends to fade into the background when the boat sets sail, but one that quickly comes back into focus when the boat loses a knot of speed or the hull becomes overgrown with vegetation.
