Member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are at a critical stage of negotiations that could lead to the first global binding agreement on biofouling management. This agreement may influence the operation, inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of ships for years to come.
Details of Proposals Under Review
Currently, several proposals are under review, including mandatory biofouling assessments, cleaning requirements related to specific thresholds, deadlines for corrective action, certification requirements, and enforcement measures. These requirements may have significant impacts on the international trade capabilities of ships.
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IMO member countries need evidence demonstrating practical capabilities in this area, existing challenges for crews and operators, access to cleaning services, current approaches to biofouling management, and unintended consequences of new requirements. For this reason, all stakeholders in the industry have been asked to respond to the biofouling survey.
The Importance of Industry Participation
Responses received from this survey can provide real evidence that will help improve discussions in the IMO. Individuals with experience in inspections, cleaning, coatings, operational limitations, and biofouling management challenges should share their views. The more responses there are, the stronger the evidence for negotiations will be.
Whether you operate a single vessel or a large fleet, your experience matters. By responding to this survey, you can help shape an agreement that is both environmentally effective and practically implementable across the global fleet.
If practical experiences from the industry are not provided, others may shape this agreement on behalf of the industry. Therefore, active and timely participation in this process is of utmost importance.
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