IP Library Granted Patent US 12668338
Granted Patent B2
US 12668338 · App. 18/207,951 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Marine organism antifouling apparatus for ships using UV-C module

Inventors: Seung Jae Baek (Busan, KR); Hyoun Kang (Busan, KR); Jung Min Seo (Busan, KR); Sung Min Koo (Busan, KR)
Assignee: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology [KIOST]
B63B59/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668338
App. No.
18/207,951
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a marine organism antifouling apparatus for ships using a UV-C module. The marine organism antifouling apparatus includes circular or polygonal net units and at least one UV-C module configured to be turned on to emit ultraviolet light by power supplied thereto, the UV-C module being provided at each of the net units, wherein the net units are connected to each other in horizontal and vertical directions to constitute a net member, and ultraviolet light is emitted from the UV-C module to prevent attachment of marine organisms in the state in which an underwater exposure zone of a ship that is moored is surrounded by the net member.

Claims (13)

1 . A marine organism antifouling apparatus for ships using a UV-C module, the marine organism antifouling apparatus comprising:

circular or polygonal net units; and

at least one UV-C module configured to be turned on to emit ultraviolet light by power supplied thereto, the UV-C module being provided at each of the net units, wherein

the net units are connected to each other in horizontal and vertical directions to constitute a net member, wherein each of the net units is constituted by a rope made of a fabric or a synthetic resin, a wire made of a metal, or a pipe having a predetermined thickness, and

ultraviolet light is emitted from the UV-C module to prevent attachment of marine organisms in a state in which an underwater exposure zone of a ship that is moored is surrounded by the net member,

wherein the UV-C module comprises:

a case fixed to each of the net units, the case being provided with through-holes formed in all directions;

a quartz plate configured to transmit light, the quartz plate being installed in the case so as to close each of the through-holes;

a support having installation recesses formed in outer surfaces thereof so as to correspond to the through-holes, the support being inserted into and coupled to the case, and

a PCB seated in each installation recess, the PCB having a UV-C LED configured to be turned on to emit ultraviolet light by power supplied thereto.

2 . The marine organism antifouling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein opposites of the net member are fixed to opposite sides of the ship or opposite sides of an anchorage so as to surround the underwater exposure zone of the ship that is moored.

3 . The marine organism antifouling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the net member further comprises an anchor wire configured to fix a middle part of the net member to a seabed or the anchorage such that the middle part is not moved by a tide when the opposite sides of the net member are fixed to the opposite sides of the ship or the opposite sides of the anchorage.

4 . The marine organism antifouling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support is provided at each corner thereof with a pressing portion configured to bring the quartz plate into tight contact with the vicinity of a corresponding one of the through-holes.