Abstract: A coating for ship hulls is designed for application to areas of the hull t accessible when ship is in dry dock. The means for applying the coating may take several forms: (1) a multilayered tape system having impregnated in or carrying an antifoulant and having a water soluble intermediate layer; (2) a sponge like layer containing impregnated antifoulant paint or coating liquid which can be squeezed therefrom onto the hull; (3) a sponge having mixed therein microspheres of resin and pigment and microspheres of activator material such that when the microspheres are crushed, the pigmented resin, which may also contain an antifoulant, and the activator are mixed and cured to form a coating on the hull. The preferred means and method for applying the coating, is to mount the tape system on the dock blocks in a dry dock before the dry dock is flooded to admit the ship, and by the settling then activate the coating the ship onto the blocks as the water is withdrawn from the dry dock.

Abstract: A coating for ship hulls is designed for application to areas of the hull not accessible when ship is in dry dock. The means for applying the coating may take several forms: (1) a multilayered tape system having impregnated in or carrying a water soluble intermediate layer antifoulant; (2) a sponge like layer containing impregnated antifoulant paint or coating liquid which can be squeezed therefrom onto the hull; (3) a sponge having mixed therein microspheres of resin and pigment and microspheres of activator material such that when the microspheres are crushed, the pigmented resin, which may also contain an antifoulant, and the activator are mixed and cured to form a coating on the hull. The preferred means and method for applying the coating, is to mount the tape system on the dock blocks in a dry dock before the dry dock is flooded to admit the ship, and then activate the coating by settling the ship onto the blocks as the water is withdrawn from the dry dock.

Abstract: A coating for hulls of ships to be applied underwater to areas of the hull not accessible when ship is in dry dock. The means for applying the coating may take several forms: (1) a multilayered tape system having impregnated in or carrying an antifoulant and having an adhesive tape operable underwater on one side; (2) a sponge like layer having an antifoulant paint or coating liquid which can be squeezed onto the hull; (3) the use of a water soluble sponge having mixed therein microspheres of resin and pigment and microspheres of activator material such that when the microspheres or crushed, the pigmented resin, which may contain an antifoulant, and the activator are mixed and cured to form a coating on the hull while the sponge material will dissolve away when exposed over its surface to seawater.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating the submerged surfaces of ships and other marine structures. One apparatus includes a housing which is partitioned into forward and rear chambers by a membrane and a piston member, which is carried by the membrane. Upon selective flooding of the rear chamber and evacuation of the forward chamber, the piston member is moved toward the submerged surface to form an evacuated molding region therebetween. Liquid molding material is then drawn into the evacuated molding region and the molding device is retained in position until the material solidifies.An alternative molding apparatus includes a housing with peripheral suction elements for releasably securing the housing to the submerged surface so that a molding region is defined therebetween. Upon displacement of water from and subsequent evacuation of the molding region, settable molding material is introduced into the molding region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing in minute detail a surface underwater. The apparatus consists of a layer of wax supported in a frame for movement into and out of contact with the surface to be reproduced, there being provided means for heating wax material to soften it and means for withdrawing the water from between the wax and surface to be molded to provide a substantially water free surface for molding.

Abstract: A system for discouraging and inhibiting growth of the entire marine fouling community onto a ship hull while it is at rest in brackish or seawater. A pipe or pipes having nozzles distributed therealong, run the length of the keel. Fresh water is supplied to the pipe which flows out the nozzles and up along the hull to create and maintain a moving boundary layer of fresh water. Such movement also serves to inhibit fouling. An enclosure comprising segmented, over-lapping, opaque curtains hang down by weights, from the ship-deck. These curtains serve to prevent light from reaching the hull, and to protect the thin boundary layer of fresh water from the disruptive, mixing actions caused by the surrounding currents. Thus the marine fouling community, including tubeworms, barnacles, grass, and algae, may be inhibited from growing and adhering to the hull surface.

Abstract: A process for neutralizing the toxic nature of organo-metallic antifouling (AF) paint particles, in intimate mixture with spent abrasive particles, derived from the abrasive blasting of ships' hulls. The spent abrasive containing the organo-metallic paint residue is collected and heated in a vapor-tight furnace which is fitted with a safety pressure release valve. When the ignition temperature of the organo-metallic paint is exceeded, the organo-metallic paint particles are oxidized to a harmless, non-toxic metal oxide, which may be safely disposed of. Volatile organo-metallic paint vapors are drawn through an after-burner so that exhaust residue consist only of non-polluting carbon dioxide and water vapor. Metallic elements of commercial value, such as tin, may be recovered from the processed abrasive, which may also be reusable. To ensure complete combustion, air is fed into the combustion furnace from a blower fan, compressor, or other external source.