Improving Biological Safety on Ships Using Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a rapidly growing field with numerous biomedical science applications. In 2013 started an investigation to use silver nanoparticles and silver ion clusters in the maritime sector for the antifouling paints for vessel’s hulls, with good results in improving the resistance in time to corrosion and formation of fouling. In 2022, the interest was moved to the internal part of the boats, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted several issues with personal and public hygiene. Because of those issues, which are enhanced in a close and very populated environment like a cruise ship, the consortium HS4U (project 101069937) was born and granted by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, project number: 101069937, started on 1 September 2022. The research goal is to improve the hygiene condition on cruise ships using several technologies, including silver-based nanotechnologies for surfaces biosafety.