Ultraguard

ULTRAGUARD ANTIFOULING

PREMIER ANTIFOULING SYSTEM OFFERS CLEAN SHIPS & CLEAN SEAS Powered by Inside Marine

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ULTRAGUARD ANTIFOULING

I PROFILE

The Ultraguard Antifouling system from UK-based Marine Growth Prevention Specialists is helping to redefine the next generation of ultrasonic antifouling solutions for the commercial marine sector. As an easy-to-use, hassle-free, zero-pollution operation, it prevents biofouling from sticking to a ship’s hull and does not harm the marine ecosystem. Technical Director Chris Ryan met Andy Probert to discuss the evolution of a solution that has sparked significant interest from ship owners globally.

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A

meeting of minds between

“Ultraguard is a cost-effective alternative

Gavin Fisher and Chris Ryan, two

to biocides and copper-based antifouling

veterans of the marine engineering

systems,” said Technical Director Mr Ryan.

world, has brought one of the biggest chal-

“Since we introduced the system in 2020,

lenges into sharp focus and dawned

interest and demand from ship owners

a commercial innovation now selling

worldwide has been significant.”

worldwide. How to prevent biofouling of ships’ hulls has become a major concern,

System deep-dive

given the IMO’s directives surrounding

Ultraguard uses high-frequency ultrasonic

invasive species, biofouling and ballast

waves to create an environment that pre-

water treatment.

vents the larvae of mussels, barnacles and

With their experience, Mr Fisher and

other marine growth, (such as weed spores),

Mr Ryan, through their company Marine

from settling on a surface and beginning

Growth Prevention Specialists (MGPS),

their colonisation cycle. Ultraguard uses

have introduced Ultraguard. This effective

ultrasonic pulses to cause transducers to

ultrasonic antifouling system prevents

resonate. These transducers then vibrate

marine growth or biofouling from

internally on a ship’s hull at a high frequency.

establishing itself on hulls, sea chests, seawater pipes and plate coolers.

As ultrasonic transducers are mass-spring devices, their frequency is dynamic and

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ULTRAGUARD ANTIFOULING

I PROFILE

can change from position to position on

about five metres. The vibration disrupts

a vessel. Its proprietary firmware can

the bond between the larvae and spores

account for these changes to ensure

from holding onto the hull’s surface. They

every transducer has a strong resonance

float away because they cannot grip the

response every time.

hull, leaving the vessel biofouling-free.

By bonding the transducer to the hull’s

“Without protection, seawater systems

interior with direct surface-to-surface

can be colonised by biofouling species,

contact, the vibration created is trans-

such as barnacles and mussels, and

ferred to the hull plating for a radius of

eventually they could colonise the internal systems and block pipes,” Mr Ryan said.

“These can cause catastrophic machine failures due to ineffective cooling.”

The company has now introduced an Ultraguard TCB App, which allows operators to retrieve operational history from each system. It also enables an operator to stop frequency conflicts with other equipment in seconds by making blocking or unblocking channels a simple click button procedure.

“Having evolved the system, Ultraguard is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced and powerful ultrasonic

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antifouling systems on the market today for the marine sector,” Mr Ryan added.

It also compares favourably to antifouling paints, which create a super slick surface that marine growth struggles to form an initial bond to. “This is great in theory, but in practice, the vessel needs to be moving through the water at speed,” he said.

“Modern paints offer no protection if it is slow moving or stationary. Ultraguard offers protection against marine growth on the hull even if the vessel is entirely still and tied up alongside for extended periods.

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ULTRAGUARD ANTIFOULING

I PROFILE

“The beauty of our system is that it is

industrial history from the building of the first

chemical-free, easy to use and removes the

working steamship to the latest high-tech

consumable costs of copper ICAF anodes

manufacturing in Silicon Glen.

and other legacy biocide systems. It is zero-

The Covid lockdown forced Mr Ryan and

pollution, and no chemicals, metals or

Mr Fisher to change their mindsets from

poisons enter the marine ecosystem.

travelling thousands of miles a week to

“Ultraguard offers up to a 40 per cent

holding virtual meetings with potential

reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

clients. “We quickly adapted and became

over unprotected vessels, zero carbon

extremely busy online,” Mr Ryan continued.

emissions and cost saving of up to a 90

“I think that was good as it forced us to

per cent over a vessel’s lifetime com-

reach beyond the UK and Europe, getting

pared to alternatives.”

Ultraguard onto the world stage.”

The company has gone from zero income

Stellar growth

to doubling turnover every year since 2020,

“Having first-hand experience marketing

and is on track to hit seven figures by the

and selling several similar systems, we decided to offer the commercial marine market products of the highest quality along with the technical support and logistics they require,” said Mr Ryan. “The only solution was to manufacture them ourselves. With former seagoing engineers in our design team, Ultraguard was designed from the start with the operator in mind.”

Ultraguard is manufactured within the Scottish Central Belt, which has an illustrious

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end of 2023. This has been assisted by

The company is currently involved in an

having a strong network of distributors and

oil and gas project to overcome challenges

sales agents covering every continent.

around seawater cooling systems, as well

“Having that has given us a major boost in

as collaboration with parties in the offshore

reaching potential clients further and faster

renewables sector. “We have many projects

than we could have done on our own,”

in the pipeline, and the next 12 months look

Mr Ryan said.

fascinating,” he added.

Several thousand units have been issued

One major challenge has been

to clients, and the system has been used

supply-chain issues from the import

on many vessels, including fast offshore

of specific components from mainland

supply boats, tween deck cargo, ASD and

Europe, while those from the Far East

Ice Class tugs.

are at best ‘sporadic’.

“In the past year, the company has

Mr Ryan said the company had gained a

seen massive growth in the crew transfer

healthy reputation in dealing with problems

vessels for offshore wind farms,” Mr Ryan

quickly. “We often go above and beyond to

said. “America offers significant potential

ensure our system offers the client as little

as the wind farm industry is taking shape.

hassle or worry as possible,” he concluded.

It has legislation that states that any

“Being available and proactive are key to

vessels operating exclusively in its waters

MGPS’ success and have helped ensure

have to be built in the US. We have picked

we can look to the future with confidence

up a lot of work there as well as on deep-

as more projects arise.”

n

sea going commercial vessels, such as fishing vessels, container ships, bulk carriers and car carriers.

“The growth in offshore wind has been specifically about hull protection, while the deep-sea vessels are concerned with clean and efficient seawater cooling systems.

“The IMO’s legislation against invasive species around ballast water has been extended to hulls and seawater cooling systems. Countries like Australia are stringent on the growth on the hulls, and we have had a major interest in that direction. We have trialled with major players in the shipping world, and they have gone very well. So, these companies are looking to fit out fleets with Ultraguard.”

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