Organotin-Based Antifouling Systems

Stationary or mobile structures immersed in sea-water, such as off-shore platforms, drilling rigs, buoys, ships’ hulls or submarines, are subject to fouling, arising from the settlement, attachment and growth of marine plants and animals. Fouling also occurs in fresh-water, but this does not produce the severe undesirable effects observed in the oceans and seas. The most practical method of dealing with this problem involves the application of a suitable antifouling coating which incorporates chemical(s) poisonous to the settling stages of aquatic organisms. Triorganotin compounds are proving themselves to be highly effective toxicants in these systems (Table 1), some 3500 tons being currently used for this application.1