Antifoul removal from commercial and recreational vessels is a necessary evil. MP BLAST specialises in removing and disposal of marine antifouling.

Many years of just scraping, sanding and then recoating results in a poor protection layer under your vessel. To do it properly you need to remove all the old antifoul and start over with a quality product. Doing it this way can mean 2-3 years of protection which saves you money and time. It also allows you to see how your gel coat, or other base coat, is standing up to the years of service.

Shark Cat Antifoul Removal

Sandblasting your vessel has been an option for many years and most marinas and slipways can do it.
There is a catch!
You may need to have your vessel moved from its stand to a special spray booth and back again. That will cost you more time and money. Also, you need to seal up everything on your boat to stop the dust cloud from getting into your cabin. More time and money.

This is where MP BLAST can help. We can blast your vessel anywhere and there is no dust. The process is very quick so you can apply the new coat of antifoul later that same day. Our specialised mobile unit can blast fibreglass, cement, aluminium, steel and wooden boats.

However, there is more to consider when servicing your boat. The environment

Antifoul Best Practice

The environment can no longer be ignored by marinas and responsible boat owners.
When dealing with antifoul removal

High-pressure washing generates water waste.
Sandblasting, grinding and sanding generates toxic dust.
Conventional scraping leaves paint chips around the working area.
This is bad news for the local ecosystems and must be considered.

Here is a list of basic guidelines, as specified by ANZECC (Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council)

In General

Undertake measures to contain wash waters and segregate wash water from non-contaminated flows.
Prevent particulate matter flushing from a dry dock, slipway or hardstand.
Reduce wind-blown particulates by using containment methods.
Avoid release of either particulates or wet waste, contaminated with tributyltin, into any water-way.
All removed antifouling waste is a controlled substance contaminated with biocides. Collect waste for disposal at an appropriate facility, in accordance with local environmental and/or waste disposal authorities.
Treat paint scrapings, dust and liquids as contaminated waste. Disposal of in accordance with the requirements of local authorities.
Do not wash any waste or residues into the sea.

Releases to Air

Wet abrasion is preferable to dry abrasion, which can create toxic dust.
Employ containment methods to avoid Dry grit blasting creates dust problems
Use of wet methods controls particulate emission to air but creates high volumes of liquid waste. Ultra-high-pressure water blasting, with lower volumes of liquid waste, is likely to become widely available in the future.

Releases to Water

Minimise use of water during removal by moving towards ultra high-pressure water blasting, vacuum or containment blasting.
Minimise high-pressure blasting and avoid coloured run off.
Avoid release to sewer systems as treatment plants commonly use biological treatments of water. Antifoul can have a direct effect on these bio-organic systems

MP BLAST can address all of these points.

By using the latest blasting technology we remove the antifoul from the hull and have it safely fall to the ground.
We follow sensitive guidelines and completely dispose of all antifoul from the area.
Use of wet-dry vacuum machines to remove the last traces of waste.

We will help you save money, time, achieve a better finish and feel good about the process.