The effectiveness of an ultrasound transmitter (100 Watt) in preventing attachment and growth offouling organisms on submerged surfaces was tested in 2017 under realistic field conditions in thewestern Wadden Sea (Royal NIOZ harbor). Additionally, the possible synergetic effect of ultrasonicsound and an antifouling coating (Intersleek 1100SR, International, USA) was investigated.Three steel test plates were deployed. One control plate was attached to a steel seawall whicheffectively shielded the plate from ultrasonic sound (0% sound pressure). Two test plates wereattached to a floating dock with the ultrasound transmitter in between creating 25% sound pressureat the back and 100% sound pressure at the front of the plates. Proper operation of the ultrasoundtransmitter was confirmed by underwater sound level measurements at the test plate surfaces. Allplates were coated on each side in a 2x2 checkerboard pattern with antifouling coating and a regular(control) non‐ antifouling coating. During the two month deployment the plates were photographedregularly. At the end of the experiment the abundance and taxonomic composition of foulingcommunities in each quadrant was determined.It is concluded that Intersleek 1100SR had a distinct anti‐fouling effect. In addition, it is concludedthat the ultrasound exposure was not an effective anti‐fouling treatment, either alone or incombination with Intersleek anti‐fouling paint.
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