I-Tech, developers of the antifouling biotechnology for marine coatings, Selektope will host a third edition of the International Antifouling Conference in September this year following its establishment as one of the key platforms for antifouling coating experts, academia, and ship operators to discuss current and future biofouling prevention strategies and technologies.

Since marine biofouling has an extremely detrimental impact on increasing a ship’s fuel use and associated GHG emissions, the performance of antifouling coatings as the first line of defense against biofouling, is more important than ever before. Today, commercial vessels in the global shipping fleet are facing mandatory regulations to significantly reduce their GHG emissions, set by the industry’s regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Therefore, to support the reduction in GHG emission from ships, antifouling coatings must continue to provide continuous, antifouling performance that meets the needs of ships sailing now, and in the future.

During the last International Antifouling Conference, held in 2023, the unanimous conclusion of participating experts was that collaboration between technology providers, researchers in the field and industry stakeholders such as paint companies and ship operators is key to ensuring that antifouling coating solutions continue to offer the best protection against biofouling. For this reason, it is essential that key experts in this technology sector regularly meet in a neutral forum to discuss current research and development progressions, future technology trends, explore new avenues of collaboration and receive end-user insights.

Dr. Markus Hoffmann, Technical Director at I-Tech comments: “This highly important conference for the antifouling technology sector will once again provide a much-needed platform for the R&D community, academia and end users to meet and discuss marine biofouling. Since the first conference in 2022, this forum has evolved into being a unique fusion of scientific insight with practical feedback from use of coatings and biofouling prevention methods in the field. As the organisers of this forum, I-Tech looks forward to welcoming the marine coatings community back to Gothenburg after the summer for what is set to be the best edition yet of the International Antifouling Conference.”

The International Antifouling Conference 2025 will be held on September 10-11 in the iconic Eriksberg ship repair building in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Gold sponsor of the conference is Stena Bulk. Keynote addresses will be delivered by representatives from Fraunhofer IFAM, Sultan Qaboos University, Samsung Heavy Industries, South China University of Technology and Guangdong Havey Advanced Materials Co. Ltd. The full agenda will be released after final abstract submissions.

Abstracts from experts interested in presenting at the conference are being accepted until March 31, 2025. Full details for abstract submission are available on the conference website.

In addition to the full two-day conference program, a limited number of delegates of the International Antifouling Conference 2025 have the option of attending a pre-conference antifouling tutorial with the highly reputed antifouling coatings expert, Dr. Alistair Finnie. Additionally, delegated can sign up to attend a half day field trip to RISE/SSPA research center.