Relevant IMO Regulation

Biofouling management is moving from best practice to regulatory expectation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets the global baseline, and a growing set of regional authorities now ask for evidence that vessels are managing biofouling.

IMO Biofouling Guidelines

The IMO's 2023 Biofouling Guidelines provide the global framework for controlling and managing ships' biofouling to minimise the transfer of invasive aquatic species. They recommend that each vessel keep a Biofouling Management Plan and a Biofouling Record Book, kept up to date.

Regional requirements

• Australia & New Zealand — biofouling requirements for vessels arriving in territorial waters.
• California (USA) — biofouling management regulations for vessels calling at Californian ports.
• Other jurisdictions increasingly request proof of proactive management.

How we help

Our regular ROV inspections, cleaning when needed, and our Digital Cleaning Log give you the auditable record of inspection and cleaning that regulators expect — mapped to exact hull locations, with before/after imagery.