As long as 2,000 years ago, hulls were sheathed with lead and smeared with concoctions of oil laced with sulfur and arsenic. In 1625 a lethal recipe combining arsenic, copper, and gunpowder was worthy of an English patent as an antifouling compound.
Until very recently, the most widely used antifouling paint was a toxic pesticide containing tributyltin (TBT). TBT was found to be so toxic at a few parts per trillion, that a world-wide treaty was signed banning future use.
Current antifouling bottom paints are toxic biocides that rely on pesticides containing copper which is designed to ablate and leach into the water. These paints are toxic to young stages of marine life and are absorbed by edible fish and shellfish. Concentrations of dissolved copper that exceed EPA government regulatory standards by as much as ten times of three parts per billion are being detected in our more popular marinas and waterways. California EPA studies conclude that approximately 0.05 pounds of copper pre foot of boat length is leached into the water annually. (For example, a 100 slip marina with average 40 foot length vessels will leach 185 pounds of dissolved copper annually.) Our marinas are being systematically polluted with toxic chemicals, and our waterways are dying.
Add to this, the EPA has found the amount of dissolved copper exceeds federal and state standards in many of our popular marinas and harbors by as much as nearly 10-times the amount allowed. (Source for most of above is What You Need To Know About Nontoxic Antifouling Strategies For Boats, Report No. T-049 published by the California Sea Grant College Program,, October 2002. See: http://www.csgc.ucsd.edu/PUBLICATIONS/PDF_pubs/AntifoulingBrochure1.pdf)
Hull paint toxicants are released over time, especially during underwater hull cleaning. They may be absorbed by mussels, worms, etc. and passed up the food chain to fish, birds and humans, posing health risks. Heavy metals accumulate in marina sediments. Contaminated sediments are more expensive to dispose after dredging, because they must be treated as hazardous wastes. This raises costs for marinas and their tenants. Disposal costs for leftover paints and solvents are high, because they are hazardous wastes. They may also release air pollutants during application. Even the most toxic bottom paints become ineffective over time. Divers scrape a boat hull as often as 14 times per year. Each time, more copper is scrapped into the marina. Arsenic also is used in boat paint pigments, which may enter the water during careless painting or scraping. As a consequence, in-water hull cleaning has been banned in many states.
Pleasure craft often spend a majority of time at the slip, so most of the copper is released there and builds up in the waters and sediments. Sediments that contain copper are more expensive to dredge from boat basins because they require special handling and disposed of as hazardous waste. Boatyards also have high costs for environmental permits to contain and dispose of the copper they remove from boat bottoms. These costs are passed to the boaters and marinas.
California is concerned about toxic buildup of copper in boat basins and is acting to cut emissions of copper from bottom paint. Bottom paints containing toxic pesticides are being banned worldwide. Copper-based hull coatings have been banned for use on recreational boats in parts of the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. The European Union has asked the International Maritime Organization to ban all toxic boat bottom paints.
Increased fuel consumption, hull cleaning, paint removal and repainting, and associated environmental compliance measures all contribute to the costs of boating. All these costs will continue to increase as marinas are forced to comply with stricter clean boating guidelines and EPA requirements.
The future antifouling paints under development are less effective then current pesticides and therefore will require more maintenance; and they are more costly. Increasing regulatory, environmental and product safety standards have all increased the cost and time required to develop a new antifoulant. Thus, there is intense research activity to seek novel, and environmentally benign, methods of fouling control.
Paint companies anticipate that copper-based bottom paints may be regulated and are developing environmentally friendly alternatives. Currently available nontoxic bottom coatings may be silicone-, epoxy-, water- or polymer-based. Nontoxic coatings are from two to five times more expensive than copper-based paints; furthermore, they do not stop fouling growth and need more frequent cleaning than copper-based paints. Nontoxic coatings are relatively new. Lifespan, cleaning schedule, handling difficulty, and the cost of haul-outs for repainting have not been determined.
In the mean time, most costal states have engaged in some form of a “Clean Marina Act” to address boating environmental issues; but not in all cases to address toxic bottom painting. This particular issue, more than any other relative to boating, and particularly recreational boating, is difficult to resolve.
Clean boating and other forms of environmental stewardship (or the lack thereof) has the potential to affect a significant portion of the Nation's economy. Each year billions of dollars are spent as millions of Americans head to the water--a lake, an oceanfront, or their favorite river--for a few days of relaxation and recreation (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000). This money is spent on food, lodging, and fuel, as well as special equipment, licenses, and services, so people can enjoy themselves on and around the water. Each year, however, closed beaches, fewer fish to catch, and other casualties of dirty water can affect this dynamic sector of our economy.
Given that the United States represents 50% of the worldwide recreational boating business where:
- there are about 17 million recreational boats (National Marine Manufacturers Association),
- retail sales of all boating products hit $29.25 million in 2002, up 30% from $19.34 billion in 1997,
- there are about 30,000 businesses in the marine industry, employing about 990,000 workers,
- marine consumers pay almost $400 million in boating-related taxes and fees annually,
there are 12,000 marinas with about 80,000 slips, - each year marinas alone generate about $2 million in federal gas taxes,
- the marine industry in the state of Florida alone represents a total economic output of over $18.4 billion and employees over 220,000, (Marine Industry Association of Florida), then;
it becomes apparent that anything that further burdens the recreational boater will have a far reaching effect and that this is as much an economic issue as an environmental one.
State-Of-The-Art bottom paints are attempting to reduce toxic levels. In California for example, Senate Bill 315 which was passed by the Legislature in 2001 mandating a study to identify incentives for boaters to use nontoxic alternatives to metal-based antifouling hull coatings. (See: http://seagrant.ucdavis.edu/nontoxicdemo.htm)
Seven years latter, in 2008, California began a study to identify alternatives to bottom paint which contained copper. Nearly half of the entrants in the study have replaced copper as the active pesticide with zinc. Yet another metal whose long term effects to the marine environment are not known and not being addressed. (Sea Grant confirms that zinc, "Is toxic to marine life even in small amounts.")
Some coatings which are touted as “environmentally friendly” have other issues. Currently available nontoxic bottom coatings may be silicone-, epoxy-, water- or polymer-based. Nontoxic coatings are more expensive than copper-based paints; furthermore, they do not stop fouling growth and need more frequent cleaning than copper-based paints. Nontoxic coatings are relatively new. Lifespan, cleaning schedule, handling difficulty, and the cost of haul-outs for repainting have not been determined. Everything in development is either ablative, leaching or slick. In all cases, the coatings loose effectiveness over time and must be maintained and reapplied. None of the new coatings have enough history to determine cost effectiveness. Plus, bottom paint generally decreases hull efficiency by 3- to 8-percent. Plus, bottom paint generally decreases boat resale value by 10- to 30-percent.
THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY.
Boat Bunkers International® has spent four years developing an In-Water Mooring Station that virtually eliminates bottom fouling without the need for bottom paint or hull scraping. EVER.
BOAT BUNKERS® manufactures a patented inflatable In-Water Mooring Station with world-wide sales that protects the boat below the waterline by isolating the hull from the surrounding water. Oxygen in the in-water mooring station is not replenished in the water, so barnacles, muscles, and worms can not grow. There is no need to ever clean or bottom paint the boat hull again.
The In-Water Mooring Station floats on the water with an undershield below the waterline. It has a rear tailgate that lowers to allow ingress and egress; and rises to completely isolate the water in the Mooring Station from the surrounding water. The boat floats inside the Mooring Station – It keeps the boat clean and protected.
The principal benefit to the environment of the Mooring Station is the elimination of bottom paint and hull cleaning. This means less toxic chemicals in the waters, canals, boatyards and marinas. Less copper paint to remove and dispose of and less sediment dredged from boat basins contaminated with copper.
Another obvious advantage in having a collar around a boat is that it prevents external spills and debris from fouling the hull. Gas, diesel, oil, cleaning agents, varnishes, garbage, trash, sewage, zinc, copper and other pollutants cannot contact the hull.
As importantly, any internal spills will immediately be contained by the Mooring Station. Gas, diesel, oil, cleaning agents, varnishes, garbage, trash, sewage, and other discharges cannot escape the Mooring Station and enter into the water. This all makes for cleaner waters and cleaner boating.
Finally, the Mooring Station has a negligible impact relative to the boat on either direct or inadvertent alteration or destruction of sea grasses, wetland vegetation, bottom sediments, and benthic fauna.
Best of all, the Mooring Station is economically viable in that it can pay for itself in about 18-months compared to bottom paint and is 1/3rd to 1/5th the cost of a lift. It is easy to install and requires minimal maintenance. The Mooring Station comes with a 60-day money back unconditional guarantee and 2-year limited warrantee and is suitable for all boats from PWC to 50-feet in saltwater or freshwater.
CLEANER BOATS. CLEANER MARINAS. CLEANER WATERWAYS. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
AMERICAN BOATING ASSOCIATION CLEAN BOATING PROGRAM
The ABA promotes boat safety, affordability, growth and a clean environment for everyone who loves boating.
CLEAN AND COSTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The Clean Marina Initiative is a voluntary, incentive-based program promoted by NOAA and others that encourages marina operators and recreational boaters to protect coastal water quality by engaging in environmentally sound operating and maintenance procedures.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PAIN OF PLEASURE BOATING
It's front-page news when an oil tanker breaks apart, blackening the ocean, killing wildlife, and staining coastlines. But more, albeit less spectacular, damage to the environment – a "death from a thousand cuts"— may come from a much smaller source: recreational watercraft that put petroleum products, human and pet waste, trash, and potentially toxic metals into coastal waters, lakes, and rivers.
FLORIDA CLEAN MARINA PROGRAMS
The Florida Clean Marina Programs are designed to bring awareness to marine facilities and boaters regarding environmentally friendly practices intended to protect and preserve Florida’s natural environment. Marinas, boatyards and marine retailers receive "clean" designations by demonstrating a commitment implementing and maintaining a host of best management practices.
SEA GRANT EXTENSION PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS
Sea Grant is a state and federally-funded program providing science-based information to people making and influencing decisions for the wise development, management and use of our coastal resources - now and in the future.