Case Study: New Zealand Defence Force achieves innovative biofouling prevention and greater fleet availability with Wazoku

New Zealand Defence Force - Customer Case Study

The Defence Technology Agency (DTA) of New Zealand partnered with Wazoku to run its first open innovation Challenge to tackle a pressing biosecurity issue: preventing biofouling on NZDF naval hulls—especially in low-flow, hard-to-reach areas—to meet strict Craft Risk Management Standards, reduce reliance on toxic antifouling treatments, and increase fleet availability.

The Challenge engaged nearly 300 Solvers, generating 101 submissions from six continents and yielding two awarded solutions: a laser-based “Stingray” system adapted from salmon farming to target and remove fouling organisms, and an antifouling paint embedding proteolytic enzymes to prevent attachment. Both approaches repurpose proven technologies from other industries, promise reduced maintenance and environmental impact, and have spurred the DTA to run two further crowd-sourced Challenges.

New Zealand Defence Force

Janelle Aitken

Acting Director Operations Support