Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining a non-toxic coating suitable for preventing attachment of fouling organisms on marine structures which involves applying onto a substrate a coating composition and curing the coating composition to yield a water-insoluble hydrophilic coating wherein the coating composition includes at least one cellulose ester and at least one organic solvent which possesses a sufficiently slow evaporation rate in order to yield a coating which is substantially smooth and non-porous. The invention also pertains to the reaction of the cellulose esters in the coating compositions with crosslinkers to provide improved toughness for coatings on substrates that are submerged in water. The invention also relates to the application of the coating composition to a substrate to be subjected to a marine environment. In a further aspect, the coating composition is applied as a clearcoat to a previously coated substrate.