To provide a globally consistent approach to biofouling, on 7 July 2023 the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted the non-mandatory Resolution MEPC.378(80) “2023 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’ Biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species”.
Several countries and port authorities (e.g. California and Australia) also have local requirements relating to control of biofouling on ships sailing in their areas.
Clean Hull ECO Notation
In response to the above biofouling needs, Lloyd’s Register (LR) has introduced new non-mandatory CH Clean Hull supplementary characters to the ECO Notation requirements in Part 7, Chapter 11 of LR’s Ship Rules. One of the requirements for this ECO(CH) notation is that: “Ships employ a system/technology approved by LR to clean/groom ship’s hull, propeller and niche areas, to monitor hull performance/vessel performance, as applicable using a service supplier(s) for conducting bio-fouling inspections, and in-water hull cleaning from a LR service supplier approval scheme.”
New service supplier categories
LR’s Procedures for the Approval of Service Suppliers have been updated to include the following new categories, covering activities related to Resolution MEPC.378(80):
- Service Suppliers engaged in Underwater Biofouling Inspections
- Service Suppliers engaged in Hull Cleaning Activities.
Source: Lloyd’s Register
