How shifting regional regulations are shaping the hull coatings market
Representing more than a simple tick box exercise, fouling control has been an essential pre-launch consideration for owners and yards for decades, unlocking benefits including reduced drag, increased fuel efficiency and extended maintenance intervals.
However, environmental concerns and a shifting regulatory landscape continue to reshape the hull coatings market, driving a new generation of technology and impacting the antifouling solutions available across global jurisdictions.
Navigating a fragmented market
The continued fragmentation of regional regulations represents a distinct challenge. Ongoing reclassification of raw materials – aimed at reducing biocide, VOC and isocyanate-based coatings – is creating disparities in product availability and compliance between countries.
The leisure marine industry’s push to reduce environmental impact, alongside an increasingly climate-conscious consumer market, is now directly steering product innovation.
Eve Lenez, global yacht segment manager, AkzoNobel, says: “While fouling control is proven to have a positive effect on the environment by reducing fuel consumption and subsequent emissions and by discouraging the transfer of invasive species, the coatings products themselves now need to adapt to maintain compliance with new regulatory frameworks and a more environmentally engaged consumer market.
“As a result, environmental considerations have emerged as a key driver for antifouling research and development.”
In July 2026, AkzoNobel posted its second-quarter results, reporting higher operating income and an improved adjusted EBITDA margin compared with the same period last year.
R&D pivots as biocide restrictions tighten
Antifouling paint has traditionally relied upon the use of one or more biocides, which are released gradually over time to prevent the microscopic fouling organisms from attaching to the boat.
However, current regulations have prompted a pivot towards foul-release, biocide-free hull coatings. This technology emphasises surficial film management.
Lenez adds: “The marine coatings compliance landscape is fragmented and can be complex, with countries and regions having their own authority and national approval boards.
“Generally, to ensure compliance, companies must provide detailed data on hazards, exposure and safe use, and certain substances can be restricted or even banned. In the EU, for instance, some regional customers are required to meet tighter regulations around biocides, so biocide-free solutions have been developed to meet increasing demand.
“In North America, the difficulty of product selection is amplified due to a two-tiered federal and state regulatory system, placing complex, often inconsistent, restrictions on biocide use. For example, in areas such as California, biocide-free coatings must meet lower VOC limits. This causes a particular challenge for boat owners who are sailing within multiple jurisdictions.
“Regulatory changes will eventually lead to the need for a broader adoption of biocide-free technologies.”
Of course, the very nature of boating results in vessels traversing different regions and thus triggering varied regulatory measures.
Hans Slegtenhorst, yacht senior product manager, AkzoNobel, says: “We recognise the challenges posed for boatbuilders and owners. To keep our coatings portfolio future-ready, we continuously monitor and anticipate changes in legislation worldwide.
“It is essential that customers have confidence that the solutions they select meet different regulations across different regions, so we develop products tailored for specific regional and local requirements, and [that are] designed to meet or exceed the strictest international regulatory standards.
“Answering the increasing requests from owners and boatbuilders for additional support, AkzoNobel continues to invest in an extensive technical network which provides expert guidance, supported by intuitive online tools that simplify product selection.”
Antifouling options
A key consideration for boatbuilders and owners remains whether to apply a polishing or hard antifouling.
Gareth Thomas, global technical manager, yacht, AkzoNobel, explains: “Self-polishing copolymer (SPC) antifoulings, such as Micron 350 from International, are designed for the most demanding fouling conditions. They gradually wear away in seawater, ensuring a consistent release of active ingredients and a smooth surface over time. These coatings are ideal for boats that stay in the water year-round, cruising yachts, and owners who want longer intervals between maintenance, as well as reliable, all-round performance.
“Hard antifouling coatings are typically used for a single season and perform best in moderate fouling conditions. They are often chosen for faster boats or racing yachts, as they can be burnished or wet sanded to create a smooth, durable finish. Hard antifouling systems protect by gradually releasing biocides from the paint surface to prevent fouling, although this effect reduces over time.
He adds that the importance of sophisticated biocide-free foul-release technology is only growing within the industry.
“One of our most recent innovations in biocide-free technology, which is designed to support compliance with regional regulations, includes B-Free Explore, a biocide-free coating system from International. AkzoNobel’s Sea Hawk and Interlux brands, meanwhile, offer copper-free alternatives and water-based technologies to meet the specific demands of the North American market.
According to Thomas, a further factor impacting demand for antifouling coatings is an increasing desire for glossier surfaces and brighter colours, even for underwater surfaces.
“A common misconception within the market is that the development of biocide-free solutions will lead to a compromise between sustainability and performance,” he adds. “However, this isn’t the case. Customers can experience the premium level of performance when implementing the correct application and maintenance processes.”
Ultimately, as environmental regulations tighten globally, long-term commercial security belongs to the boatbuilders and owners who partner with adaptable, future-proof coating manufacturers.
This article was originally published in Marine Industry News magazine. Read more issues here.
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