New Zealand has ordered the 33,752 dwt bulk carrier DL Marigolto to leave its waters and have a thorough clean because of concerns about dense fouling to its hull, BBC informs.
New Zealand has strict biosecurity laws at its border in order to protect agriculture and its unique flora and fauna. However, it is the first vessel to be told to leave New Zealand because of biofouling.
Specifically, the ship arrived in Tauranga from Indonesia, where divers found dense clusters of barnacles and tube worms on the on the bulk carrier’s hull. Eventually, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) then gave the ship 24 hours to depart.
The incident was described as a “severe contamination” and sunsequently DL Marigolto wasn’t allowed to unload its shipment to New Zealand until it has heen “thoroughly cleaned”. Finally, the vessel head forward to Fiji, where the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) said the marine species carried on the hull could be devastating for Fiji’s environment too and they also did not allow it to dock.
According to reports, next year tighter rules are about to be implemented in order to protect New Zealand’s marine environment against biofouling.
