The units used are two different units each utilizing different ‘baskets’ of frequencies. Take a look at the video here and see how the Zebra Mussel has significantly lost its attachment in just 50 hours! This test was conducted adjacent to open water along the St. Lawrence River just within the last two weeks.

During that test, our diver, very familiar with the Zebra Mussel problem along the River said that he normally had to use a steel scraper and two hands to scrape the mussels from their host. If he tried to pull one loose, it took enough effort that he normally crushed the shell in pulling it off. In our video, watch him pick them off with ease. We gave him a thin plastic sixty cent scraper which he is using.

This process is benign to the point that only the glue is affected. “We don’t believe that we even kill the mussel itself in the process,” said Masters.

Environmentally, we feel this is able to remove the obstruction to intakes and other treated structures and surfaces without doing any collateral damage to coatings such as paint or the like. It’s win-win for compliance issues.

Use of the devices will be provided as a service primarily. We are looking first to industrial uses. One unit most likely can treat an area about an acre in size. The unit is designed to operate continuously 24/7/365. We have similar products that have been in continuous use since 1995.

The application is entirely different, but the unit construction is the same. Some 29 US patents protect the product. The units are made here in the USA and we expect global interest from the maritime community.

The barnacle unit will begin formal testing this week and is expected to continue for ten days. “We’re wanting to determine what area we can treat with one unit. Then we can calculate how many units might be used to protect a 1000 foot hull, for example. It is expected that once the fouling has been removed that a vessel can remain free of barnacles thereafter with continual use of the device. It’s ongoing protection,” says the spokesman.

Our thought is that because of the gargantuan costs to operate modern ships, if we are able to give an owner operator an additional week or so per year to be in a revenue position versus a shipyard position, then again everyone wins. The vessel is faster because of no fouling and it is in revenue use more days per year. Because the hull coating is not being attacked with scrubbers or high pressure removal methods, there is no environmental issue raised either. A new international IMO treaty will no longer allow paint particles to be deposited in waterways. Here is a viable method to be and remain compliant.

Ever since hulls have been placed in water fouling has been an issue. Appeal is global. Even at this early stage there is interest in Dubai. These devices can also be used by shipyards, marinas and the like. Our barnacle unit was initially tested quite successfully on piers on the Texas Gulf. Being east coast natives, we’re just now getting a realization of how extensive an issue the Zebra mussel is in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River and its many tributaries.

Lion’s Beard Marine has worldwide distribution approval for both of these units. It’s more than enough to be very pleased with the prospects.