Effects of biofouling in Baltic Sea: theoretical framework and empirical measurements

Abstract

The objective of COMPLETE project is to provide a decision-making optimization tool for controlling harmful invasive species spreading in the Baltic Sea region due to biofouling of ship hull structures. The tool includes several elements that consider the research problem, for example, from biological or toxicological points of view. In this paper, the methods used for defining towing resistances of ships is studied. The aim is to create a toolkit for the evaluation of the effect of biofouling on a single vessel level. Theoretical results are compared to the recorded values of empirical measurements performed during normal operation of the ship. The goal is to observe the impact of variables that are difficult to model (such as weather conditions) and assess the potential need for further development of the tool.