Marine growth corrosion problems: the need for a central information unit

Abstract

The chapter deals with fouling communities on North Sea oil and gas platforms. It very briefly summarizes these communities, dividing them into three depth zones: surface, midwater, and deeper. Surface communities, down to 25 m) are dominated by mussels (Mytilus edulis) and the colonial hydroid Tubularia. Midwater communities, 25–70 m) are dominated by tubeworms, saddle oysters, small barnacles, hydroids, sponges, and bryozoans. Deeper communities, from 70 m to the mudline, have lower densities of organisms and are characterized by the barnacle Balanus hameri and the colonial polychaete worm Filograna implexa.