Focusing on biofouling and AFS Convention

TIN news:  IMO announced that conducted a national workshop in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on 25-27 April, focusing on biofouling and, specifically, raising awareness of the issues and developed capacity for the ratification and implementation of the anti-fouling Systems (AFS) Convention and the implementation of the Biofouling Guidelines.

As IMO explains, all ships can experience a build-up of aquatic organisms on their underwater hull and structures, which is known as biofouling. This can impact on the ship speed and energy use, but it could also potentially see aquatic organisms transferred to new areas, where they could become invasive species.

IMO has acted to regulate anti-fouling systems, in order to prevent adverse impacts from the use of anti-fouling systems and the biocides they may contain and has also adopted guidance to focus on how biofouling should be controlled and managed to reduce the transfer of invasive aquatic species.