A recurring maintenance burden
The moonpool is a vertical shaft running through the centre of the vessel, allowing scientists to lower instruments and sampling equipment directly into the sea through a sheltered opening in the hull. On a research ship, it’s an essential feature, enabling safe deployment of gear in rough or icy conditions where working over the side would be impossible.
Over time, however, the open structure had become prone to biofouling, leading to repeated cleaning during maintenance periods. For a vessel supporting long-duration research missions thousands of miles from shore, reactive cleaning was proving inefficient. The vessel’s operators sought a proactive solution that could help maintain this critical area in a clean condition.
Once they understood how our ultrasonic system worked, they were keen to go ahead
Discovering a proactive alternative
Already familiar with Cathelco’s marine growth prevention systems installed during the vessel’s build, the operator turned again to Cathelco when exploring new antifouling technologies. After researching options, the technical team reached out to learn more about Cathelco’s ultrasonic antifouling solution, the USP DragGone.
“They’d been cleaning the moonpool regularly and simply wanted a more proactive way to manage it,” says Chris Hewitt of Cathelco. “Once they understood how our ultrasonic system worked, they were keen to go ahead.”
Following several discussions and feasibility assessments, Cathelco proposed an installation approach tailored specifically for the moonpool structure, a first of its kind for this type of application.
“For us, it was a first-of-its-kind installation,” Hewitt adds. “It’s a full adoption of the technology for a very specific use case.”
The solution offered a continuous, non-chemical means of deterring marine growth, aligning with the vessel’s operational and environmental standards.
For us, it was a first-of-its-kind installation. It’s a full adoption of the technology for a very specific use case.
Supporting continuous research operations
By adopting Cathelco’s ultrasonic antifouling solution, the RRS Sir David Attenborough now benefits from a proactive approach to marine growth management in one of its most critical operational areas. The technology helps to reduce manual cleaning requirements, improve reliability between maintenance intervals, and support the vessel’s wider mission of uninterrupted research.
