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At the 76th session of the Maritime Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 76), the IMO has prohibited the use of cybutryne in antifouling systems (AFS) from 1 January 2023, as studies have proven that the substance is harmful to a variety of marine organisms.
The Industry standard on in-water cleaning with capture has been submitted to support IMO’s work on the review of the Guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species.
Cleaning a ship’s submerged parts from barnacles and other growths, while the ship is in the water, can transfer invasive species to local marine environments unless it is properly cleaned and the debris is captured. To combat this problem, and to provide clarity and quality assurance to shipowners, ports and government authorities, BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have published the first industry standard on in-water cleaning of ships.
The objective of this procedure is to set minimum requirements for approval of cleaning companies for various types of operations.
The Industry standard is one of two separate documents that outline performance-based requirements for in-water cleaning of a ship’s hull, propeller and niche areas with the capture of the materials that are removed during the process.
California has amended regulation in section 2298.5 in Article 4.8 of Title 2, Division 3 of Chapter 1 of the California Code of Regulations. The regulatory changes become effective on 1 January 2021. It changes the way ships should submit information through the Marine Invasive Species Program Annual Vessel Reporting Form.
BIMCO, the world’s largest shipping association, has moved a step closer to finishing a global set of guidelines needed to protect the marine environment from invasive species and reduce CO2 emissions. Currently, there is no common global standard for cleaning ships’ hulls to avoid transferring invasive aquatic species, nor for the potentially damaging debris washed off in the process.
BIMCO’s committee structure will change to reflect the increased importance of the environment while maintaining a thorough debate on safety. The BIMCO Board of Directors agreed to the change at a meeting in December.
BIMCO has forwarded the results of a biofouling survey to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to contribute with insight into biofouling practices ahead of the IMO’s revision of the existing guidelines for ships’ biofouling.
BIMCO has published an updated version of its widely used Hull Fouling Clause for Time Charter Parties. The new edition more clearly sets out the circumstances and point in time when responsibility for hull cleaning passes from owner to time charterer.
