Tag: biofouling

Raising awareness of and combatting ocean pollution caused by micro-plastics, bio-fouling, chemicals and macro-organisms were the focus of the most recent meeting of the IMO's GloFouling Partnership Project's Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety.

In a new video, IMO is describing its actions to protect the oceans worldwide, saying that the "world must strive to do more to protect the oceans."

IMO informs that a major project to tackle bioinvasions by organisms which can build up on ships' hulls and other marine structures saw activities slow down during the COVID-19 pandemic but is on track to meet its targets.

IMO and States in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region have begun developing a regional biofouling management strategy and action plan to prevent the transfer of invasive aquatic species.

As new requirements for managing biofouling on international vessels arriving in Australia will begin on 15 June 2022, more countries around the world have already established similar regulations to address the effects of biofouling. 

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) currently prohibits the use of harmful Organotins in anti-fouling paints used on ships. The IMO has published amendments to the AFS Convention, given in Resolution MEPC.331(76), which come into force on 1 January 2023. 

A new animation video produced by the German Maritime and Hydrographic Agency who is one of the GloFouling strategic partners, explains the issue of invasive species and its link to biofouling and recreational boating in the Baltic Sea.

Korean KCC Corporation is the latest company to join the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety, a platform for industry collaboration set up under IMO's GloFouling Partnerships project. 

As of June 15, 2022, Australia will require all vessels entering, or intending to enter, Australian territorial waters on any voyage that commenced outside Australian territorial waters to carry a compliant Biofouling Management Plan and associated Record Book.

The TEST Biofouling Project by IMO and Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) will demonstrate technical solutions to stop invasive species and reduce GHG emissions from ships.