Last chance to contribute to our biofouling management survey

Published: 18 December 2024

Initial results of the 3rd biofouling survey show the important role both reactive in-water cleaning and proactive cleaning (hull grooming) are playing. There are still a couple of weeks left to take the survey.

Initial signs from the BIMCO biofouling survey show that the 2023 Biofouling Guidelines developed by the IMO are driving change in biofouling management by shipowners. More than a third of the respondents say that they have changed their management practices over the last 24 months in order to apply the guidelines. This is being done hand-in-hand with efforts from shipowners to better manage biofouling to reduce fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions. Additionally, and as shown in the analysis of previous BIMCO surveys, it is clear that monitoring and self-inspections continue to develop.

In-water cleaning is increasingly becoming an integral part of biofouling management, and in a submission to the 12th session of the IMO’s Pollution and Prevention and Response Sub-Committee (PPR) taking place early in 2025, we urge that the guidance on in-water cleaning being developed by the IMO must enable the reduction or removal of the barriers highlighted in the survey.

Access to safe and sustainable in-water cleaning services – with capture as appropriate – is seen as vital for successful implementation of the 2023 guidelines. In-water cleaning services need to be available in in locations where it is both safe for personnel, in particular divers, to conduct cleaning and where potential harm to the environment can be minimised.

We currently have over 2300 ships represented in the survey but there is still time to make your views heard and to share your experience. The survey can be accessed at BIMCO Biofouling Survey 2024 (jotform.com).

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