<p>A multifunctional superhydrophobic (SHP) duplex coating on 304L SS was developed by using zinc stearate as the first layer by electrodeposition and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane as the top coat by dip coating. The average water contact angle (WCA) was 168.2 ± 3.5°, and the sliding angle was 1 ± 0.1°. The coating was characterized using a profilometer, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. The wetting behavior of the SHP coating was investigated using acidic as well as basic solutions, and NaCl solutions of varying concentrations. The mechanical adhesion of the coating was investigated using a tape test. The self-cleaning performance of SHP coating was explained based on the forces acting on the dirt particle during the cleaning process. The corrosion protection efficiency of the SHP coating was investigated using the potentiodynamic polarization technique in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The Zn-stearate-HDTMS SHP coating exhibited good mechanical adhesion and chemical stability. The anti-biofouling studies were conducted in Gram-positive <i>(Bacillus sp.)</i> and Gram-negative (<i>Pseudomonas sp.</i>) enriched bacterial cultures. Moreover, the SHP coating is suitable for self-cleaning and corrosion resistance applications in a marine environment.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>