How Graphene is Making Ships More Sustainable

Mitacs sat down with Marciel Gaier, a leading expert in marine coatings, to reflect on his innovation journey from Mitacs intern to Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of Nova Scotia-based GIT Coatings. The company has successfully commercialized multiple products, with over 400 vessels already coated, and continues to develop new solutions to advance the industry.

Mitacs: How did you start in the field of marine technologies?

Marciel Gaier: I studied materials science and engineering both in my undergraduate degree at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil and my PhD at Dalhousie University. My passion has always been creating innovative materials for applications. I began my career working with aerospace paints and coatings.

During my PhD, I collaborated with Boeing to develop graphene-based coatings for landing gears. This work sparked the idea that I should apply the material to other industries. This is how I started GIT Coatings, a company that explores how graphene could improve the performance and properties of paints and coatings for ships.

Mitacs: You won the 2021 Mitacs Entrepreneur Award — Environmental Entrepreneur for your efforts to transform the global shipping industry. What impact has this prize had on GIT Coatings?

MG: Working with Mitacs and winning the 2021 Mitacs Entrepreneur Award gave us valuable recognition, not just in Canada but internationally. It also strengthened our brand reputation, making us a more recognizable workplace and helping us attract top talent. The recognition has also played a role in helping us secure funding. In 2023, BDC Capital’s Climate Tech Fund led GIT’s Series A funding round, which was a big deal for us.

Mitacs: What are some Mitacs-funded projects GIT Coatings is currently working on?

MG: With the help of Mitacs, we are collaborating with various universities across Atlantic Canada and have successfully funded many undergraduate students.

One of our key collaborators is the Wyeth Lab at the Centre for Biofouling Research at St. Francis Xavier University. Here, students apply different paints and coatings to metal sheet samples and submerge them in the ocean. This allows us to assess the toxicity of the paints we are using and explore ways to prevent marine biofouling — when organisms attach to ships, causing increased drag and fuel consumption, which leads to economic and environmental costs. Our goal is to develop a non-toxic coating that prevents marine life from adhering to ships.

For example, one of our Mitacs interns, Anand Lopez, is coordinating the development, application, and shipment of coatings to different ocean environments. This is invaluable for us, as it provides real feedback on how our products perform across diverse ecosystems, especially as ships move between oceans with different marine conditions.

Through GIT, Anand gained his first industry experience, bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world applications.

Mitacs: GIT was awarded Canada’s Ocean Supercluster funding to work on the Smart Protective Coatings Project in collaboration with Mitacs and Horizon Maritime Services Ltd. What has been the impact of the project since 2020?

MG: The project, which was completed with great results, aimed to pilot GIT’s coating technology to reduce fuel consumption and underwater noise. We worked closely with fishing communities in Nova Scotia, and the results showed that fishing boats became more fuel-efficient and produced fewer emissions. GIT was also able to test its technology in a new market, further validating its impact and effectiveness.

Mitacs: In what ways do you see GIT Coatings shaping Canada’s and the Atlantic’s marine industry over the next decade?

MG: We are pioneers in the marine coating industry across the country. With our success, we have been able to support many local businesses that supply us with raw materials, paint cans, and other essential components to create our coating.

With the help of Mitacs, we are making the marine industry more sustainable by developing and testing new ship coatings that eliminate the use of copper. This reduces the release of toxic chemicals into the ocean, creating a healthier environment for marine life. Our coatings also help lower fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and chemical pollution, contributing to a cleaner and more eco-friendly marine industry.

Mitacs’s programs receive funding from multiple partners across Canada. We thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon for supporting us to empower Canadian innovation. 

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca.