[1] The sea chest provides an intake reservoir from which piping systems draw raw water.
[1] When the ship is in freshwater, the hard steel surfaces of the sea chest, protective grates and baffles, combined with low water velocities created in this immediate area, provide a suitable environment for zebra mussel attachment.
[1] Control strategies include coating all surfaces with an antifoulant such as copper-based epoxy paint or hot-dip galvanizing.
Increasing the size of the sea chests by 20% to 30% may delay the onset of serious problems that could force an engine shutdown.
Thermal treatment is a highly effective strategy for the control of zebra mussels (McMahon et al. 1995).