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. 232 Inside marine
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
236 Inside marine
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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