Hempel A/S coatings company has released a statement to announce its decision to join the International Maritime Organization (IMO’s) Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety.
The company has increased its commitment to assisting the maritime industry in its transition to more sustainable operations, and has decided to collaborate with the industry to support shipping’s emissions reduction pathway and to minimize the spread of invasive species.
The Global Industry Alliance (GIA)
The GIA, created under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) GloFouling Partnerships project, is a cross-sectoral platform for collaboration. Following Hempel’s membership, the GIA comprises 13 private companies that work with governments, the IMO and other non-governmental organisations to increase awareness of the environmental implications and risks associated with biofouling on ships hulls, identify common issues, and foster solutions for mitigation. The alliance also informs policy developments and shares technical expertise within non-governmental organisations.
The Project is part of the wider efforts undertaken by IMO, in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to protect marine ecosystems from the negative effects of invasive species.
Members of the GIA include marine coatings companies, in-water cleaning service providers and marine growth preventive systems, shipping companies and technical organizations.
Do you know what biofouling is?
Biofouling is defined as the accumulation of aquatic organisms such as plants, animals, and micro-organisms on surfaces and structures submerged or exposed to the aquatic environment. This makes it a significant risk for the marine environment and a key threat directly posed by international shipping, as vessels transfer these micro-organisms, known as invasive aquatic species, to new ecosystems in different regions, threatening their balance. In addition, biofouling build-up on a ship’s hull creates drag and can significantly reduce efficiency levels as more fuel is required to propel the vessel through the water.
As a provider of hull performance solutions that can help prevent the build-up of invasive species on hulls, as well as reduce the fuel usage and carbon emissions of ships, we look forward to taking part in this collaboration.
…said Alexander Enström, Executive Vice President and Head of Marine.
Hempel’s coatings can help reduce biofouling so its decision to join GIA may prove considerably important.
