Microbes of Microbiological Attack

Microbial problems were seen at their height in the early eighties. There has been a reduction in the
number of incidents although the problem has never fgone away. In addition whereas effects were seen
ainly in distillate fuels and lubricants, it is now seen in residual fuels, drinking and ballast water. Failure to
eradicate completely a re put down to advserse trading, poor training and housekeeping, environmental
restrictions in the use of microbial agents and the restrictions in bilge pumping placed by MAR!"
MICROBES
Microbiological contamination consisting of bacteria, yeasts and moulds, are easily tolerated at low
contamination levels. It is only when their numbers are not controlled that rapid infestation occurs
From a marine point of view there are si# main areas of concern for microbiological infestation.
These are$
%. &istillate fuel'
(. "ubricating oil'
). *ooling water'
+. ,ilge water'
-. ,allast water'
.. &istillate cargoes.
Conditions promoting growth
In each case, it is to be remembered that microbes are living organisms and their growth depends upon
the readily availability of water, nutrients, heat, o#ygen /or sometimes lack of it0 within an otherwise
acceptable environment.
Water
The main re1uirement for microbiol activity is water. This must be available water and not 2ust
water content. bA typical minimum value is %3. This can happern due to insufficient draining. The
presence of free water can lead to rapid micorbiol growth after % week at )45*. 6here water is dispersed
then growth is limited the microbes e#isting in water droplets or surrounded with a water sheath.
Modern lead7free gasolines contain water soluble o#ygenates such as methyl and ethyl alcohol, methyl
tertiary butyl ether these along with antifree8e glyciol when migrted to the water phase cause a
depression in microbiol activity. The level of glycol must be above a minimum as below this the glycol can
actually promote growth
Ntrients
9ydrocarbons and chemical additives in the fuel and lubricant act as their food source. In addition to this
are nutritive matter found in contaminated water either fresh or sea water. :ea water in addition
promotes the growth of sulphate reducing bacteria. *argo residues , particularly for ships carrying such
thinks like fertilisers are also sources. The presence of rust and other particulates can promote growth.
Note that clean dr! fel kept at reasonable temperatre will ne"er permit an!
significant growth
#emperatre
6arm enginerooms / %- 7 )-5*0 provide the ideal breeding ground for microbiol growth. Too hot /;45*0 or
too cold /-5*0 will retard growth
En"ironment
Most corrosive forms of bacteria prefer astable environment and dislike adgitation. Thus ships in lay up or
ships that spend long periods inactive are particularly susceptible. 6ater leakage or condenstaion will ten
provide the living environment. The microbes live in the water phase but feed on nutrients in the oil phase
this the boundary area sees agressive growth.
Indications
The unpleasant by7products of their digestion, after hydrocarbons have been o#idised into acids, include
to#ic and pungent hydrogen sulphide. This is produced from any sulphurous compounds within the fuel,
lubricant, seawater or waste product. Microbial growth is seen as a characteristic sludge formed from
accumulated cellular material which may restrict fuel and lubricant pipe lines and filters.
#!pes of Microbes
There are three basic types of micro organsims that cause problems in the marine industry, these are
bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
Bacteria
Bacteria can be subdivided into
1. Aerobic Bacteria Require oxygen to survive.
2. Anaerobic Bacteria Live in the absence of oxygen
3. Facultative Bacteria Live with or without oxygen
,acteria is a highly diverse group of single celled organisms with rigid cell walls. They may be
rod like, spherical or spiral and many are actively mobile with a whip like appendage /flagellum0. They can
reproduce ase#ually and rapidly using binary fission with a doubling time of as low as (4 minutes. They
are design to reproduce rapidly when the time is rigth and some are able to produce e#tremely resistant
spores able to withstand high temperatures and disinfectants.
Although in the main they prefer neutral or slightly alkaline environments some can e#ist in
the e#tremes of acid. They can e#crete partial breakdown products on which other forms of bacteria can
feed. In addition they can produce large amounts of e#tra7cellular slime which coats and stabilises the
living environment. This slime can protect against or deactivate biocides. This slime can prevent the
diffusion of o#ygen to the base of the growth and thereby promote :uulphate Reducing ,acteria which are
particularly agressive.
$easts
These are unicellular, being ovoid or spherical in shape some may also produce rudimentary
filaments. They reproduce by budding and growing off the parent untill large enough to seperate. This
process may take several hours.They prefer slightly acidity
Molds
Multicellular with hard chitinous cell walls.They are ususally found as branched hyphaeforming
a thick, tough intertwined mat occurring most commonly at oil<water interfaces. They reproduce by
branching and can double there length in a few hours. They can also produce spores.
They prefer slightly acidic conditions, using o#ygen in their feeding process they produce by
products suitable for other microbes to feed and an atmosphre suitable for :ulphate Reducing bacteria.
They reduce comple# hydrocarbons to simpler carbon compounds. Intensive corrosion can
occur under the mat. They can be both sea water and temperature tolerant
Slphate Redcing Bacteria %SRB&
These are a specific group of anaerobic bacteria with special growth re1uirements. They can
only use simple carbon compounds therefore they re1uire the prescence of other microbes. They will
produce hydrogen :ulphide in the prescence of sulhure containing compounds such as sulphates found in
sea water.
&esulfotomaculum has the added ability to produce e#tremely hardy spores able to resist
e#posure to air, heat and most biocide chemicals. ,oth this and &esulfovibrio are very insiduous and able
to rapidly cause corrosion in ships hull and machinery