Annual Conference 2020 - Engendering a Proactive Culture for Biofouling Management Across the Marine Sector

IMarEST TV recording from the 13th July 2020 IMarEST Annual Conference Engendering a Proactive Culture for Biofouling Management Across the Marine Sector, members of the discussion panel included: Colin Anderson, R&D Director American Chemet; Dr Simon Bray Co-Director AQAS LTD; Ricardo Coutinho, Senior Researcher at IEAPM; Caitriona Hanly, Technical Executive IMarEST; Dr Theofanis Karayannis, Head of Marine Biosafety, IMO; Lilia Khodjet El Khil, Project Technical Manager, IMO and John A Lewis, Chair of IMarEST Biofouling Management Group.

Marine biofouling is currently at the centre of a global debate on the environmental impacts of marine industries. Biofouling is recognised as a vector for the transfer of non-indigenous species and associated potential biosecurity risks. The biofouling of ships is detrimental to ship operations, increasing drag, boosting fuel requirements and reducing efficiency. Biofouling can impact other structures such as tidal turbines, increasing operational and maintenance costs whilst fouling of oil and gas industry infrastructure or coastal power plants can compromise sensitive equipment or cooling system. Other sectors such as aquaculture are impacted in numerous ways from direct fouling of stock (shellfish farming) causing physical damage, biological competition and environmental modification and the fouling of infrastructure which restricts water exchange, increases disease risk and causes deformation of cages and structures.

Despite the socio-economic threats posed by biofouling uncertainties remain- particularly around management practices including the efficacy and environment impact of coatings and in-water cleaning. There is an inconsistent and sometimes even a restrictive approach to management regimes across different States; new policies can be hampered due to a lack of the unique combination of technical, scientific and legal expertise required to deliver effective and practical polic. Global initiatives are vital to ensure consistent implementation and avoid patchy local regulations, which often shift the problem elsewhere rather than address it head on. In the wake of the Ballast Water Management Convention efforts are now underway to review international guidelines, build capacity in developing countries and introduce new national regulations that address the risks posed by biofouling.

So how can we ensure that guidelines are fit for purpose and inform supportive new strategies that encourage proactive engagement from governments and industries to take up effective management? This panel discussion will bring together a range of industry perspectives including from regulators, shipowners and researchers to explore the state of existing regulations, advice and tools, in order to share experiences gained and identify where more development is required.

Watch Now on IMarEST TV (IMarEST Members only)

About IMarEST Annual Conference

Building on last year’s inaugural event, the 2020 Annual Conference will feature multiple streams covering many of the hottest topics in the marine realm, from the challenges of decarbonisation and a wider shift to greener, more sustainable ways of operating to developments in the naval sector and the outlook for autonomous systems.

Over the course of two weeks, we will utilise a mixture of live formats – webinars, live debates, 1-2-1 talks with experts, and panel discussions - to provide delegates a flexible and unrivalled opportunity to participate in debates, to learn about subjects outside their day-to-day work, and to make new professional connections.

Although the change to a virtual format was made primarily in response to Covid-19, it will allow international members who ordinarily would be unable to travel to London and attend in person to fully take part in proceedings and bring a global voice to the event.

To maximise interaction and engagement, we encourage all delegates to download our new event app, which will help you keep track of what’s happening when, take part in live polls, access supporting content and network with other participants and sponsors.