Aegis-Bio

Nothing grows on it.

Metal-free, PFAS-free antifouling for hulls, nets and everything that sits still. It's sprayed on like any antifouling paint, and it works at zero knots.

Talk to us about Aegis-Bio Data sheets (PDF)

Hull of an uncrewed surface vessel after six months submerged: the Aegis-Bio coated section is clean, the section to its right painted with copper antifouling is slimed Aegis-BioStayed clean CopperIncumbent coating
  • European naval shipbuilderSix months in service on an uncrewed surface vessel
  • Result3% fouling coverage vs 28% for state-of-the-art copper
  • University of MichiganBio-inspired chemistry, spun out of the lab
The opening

Copper is on the way out. Silicone only works at speed. Nothing protects what stands still.

~58%

of marine antifouling still relies on copper, and regulators are tightening copper limits in harbours and marinas.

Speed

Silicone fouling-release sheds fouling only when a vessel moves fast enough. Below that, it fouls like bare steel.

Still

Ships alongside, fleets in reserve, nets, pilings and offshore foundations spend most of their life standing still. Today they get copper or nothing.

EU · Biocidal Products Regulation

Antifouling paints are biocidal products (product-type 21) that need an approved active substance and a product authorisation.

U.S. · EPA

Every antifouling paint sold in the U.S. must be registered with EPA as a pesticide under FIFRA, with state rules layered on top.

Washington State

Antifouling paint with more than 0.5% copper is restricted on recreational vessels, wooden boats excepted.

The proof at sea

Six months in service. Beat state-of-the-art copper.

Aegis-Bio and a copper self-polishing coating, side by side on the same uncrewed surface vessel in Southern Europe, against an uncoated control.

Hull of an uncrewed surface vessel after six months submerged: the Aegis-Bio coated section is clean, the section to its right painted with copper antifouling is slimed Aegis-BioStayed clean CopperIncumbent coating
The same vessel's uncoated control hull after the same six months, hung with heavy green growth ControlSame period · heavy fouling

Fig. 1 · Six months submerged on a European naval shipbuilder's uncrewed surface vessel. Aegis-Bio left of frame, copper right; the control hull is at right.

Fouling coverage after six months Lower is better

Same vessel, same exposure

  • Aegis-Bio 3%
  • Copper paint 28%
  • Uncoated control 91%
Fouling rating after 24 months static Higher is better

ASTM D3623 · static panels

  • Aegis-Bio 95
  • Best copper paint 58
  • Best silicone 25
Metals and biocides leached Lower is better

ISO 15181 · µg/cm²/day

  • Aegis-Bio ND
  • Best silicone 2.1
  • Copper paint 18
Applied cost per m² per year Lower is better

USD

  • Aegis-Bio $4.20
  • Best copper paint $6.50
  • Best silicone $11.80

Five-year service life between recoats, against 1–4 years for the alternatives.

Aquaculture economics

Expensive nets exist because of fouling. Remove the fouling and nets get 50× cheaper.

Underwater split view: a clean coated hull and net on the left, a fouled uncoated hull and net on the right, with the boat above the waterline
Coated, left. Uncoated, right.

Why farms buy copper

Nobody chooses copper alloy mesh because it's a better net. They choose it because nylon and HDPE foul. Occluded nets mean less oxygen, slower growth, higher mortality and constant diver cleaning.

What that costs

~$500K

for a copper alloy pen, against about $10K for HDPE or Dyneema. The farm pays a 50× premium to solve a surface problem.

What Aegis-Bio changes

Coat the cheap substrate and it outperforms the expensive one. HDPE and Dyneema last longer than nylon, cost a fraction of copper alloy, are lighter to handle and carry no heavy-metal load into the water or the food supply.

Net costs from published field comparisons and operator data. Static fouling resistance: nets, moored hulls, pilings, offshore wind, intakes.

Five verticals

One coating wins in five markets.

01

Naval and government fleets

Why Aegis-Bio wins

Ships spend most of their life alongside, where silicone fails. A navy on Aegis-Bio is the reference every commercial buyer asks for.

02

Commercial vessels and dry dock

Why Aegis-Bio wins

A copper-free hull for owners under environmental pressure.

03

Aquaculture nets and cages

Why Aegis-Bio wins

Nets never move. Clean nets mean oxygen, growth and fewer net changes.

04

Offshore wind and energy

Why Aegis-Bio wins

Foundations and subsea structures sit still for decades.

05

Leisure boats

Why Aegis-Bio wins

Marinas lead the copper restrictions.

Application

Sprayed like any antifouling. One dip tank for nets.

Isometric illustration of paint being mixed, canned, trucked and sprayed onto a ship hull HullsSprayed by yard crews
Isometric illustration of net being dipped, rolled, cured and baled at a mill NetsOne dip tank at the mill

Hulls

The active is dosed at the paint plant as Part B into the base paint, then dispersed and canned with viscosity and fineness QC. The shipyard preps, primes and sprays it like any antifouling, with a film-thickness and holiday-test gate before launch.

Nets

Knitted HDPE or Dyneema net runs through one Aegis-Bio dip tank and squeeze rollers, then air cures. QC checks add-on weight and pull-off before baling and deploying at the farm.

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