How Hull Roughness Impacts Ship Speed and Fuel Efficiency
A cargo vessel may glide smoothly at sea, but beneath the surface, fouling—caused by algae, barnacles, and microorganisms—gradually roughens its hull. This seemingly minor change can reduce speed by up to 10% or increase fuel consumption by 30%. With shipping handling nearly 90% of global trade and fuel comprising over 50% of operating costs, the […]


