What is biofouling?

• A. Microbial growth in ballast water
• B. Corrosion of hull
• C. Organisms such as barnacles, mussels, algae and sea squirts attached themselves to a ship's hull
• D. The accumulation of algae on deck

Answer: (C)

Biofouling is the buildup of living organisms on submerged surfaces, especially a ship’s hull. Over time, organisms such as barnacles, mussels, algae, and sea squirts attach themselves to the hull, forming a fouling layer. This makes the hull rougher, increasing drag and fuel consumption, and it can also help transport invasive species via ballast water. It’s not merely microscopic growth in ballast water, nor hull corrosion, nor algae on the deck. The defining idea is organisms attaching themselves to a submerged surface like a ship’s hull.