The GloFouling Partnerships project has released a new training package, this time focusing on the development of Biofouling Management Plans (BFMPs) and Biofouling Management Record Books (BFRBs). BFMPs and BFRBs are a key element of IMO’s Biofouling Guidelines and are essential for addressing proactively the issue of biofouling on ships hulls, both from the perspective of ship owners or operators and of biosecurity officers or inspectors.
The training course main objective is to explain the key elements and considerations when developing a Biofouling Management Plan, the role of the Biofouling Record Book and how to assess the information presented in both documents to assess the level of biosecurity risk of a ship. The training consists of theory lessons supported by practical exercises.
The new training course was first delivered in Tonga (13-14 July 2023) in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure of Tonga, and subsequently the next week in Fiji (19-20 July 2023) in cooperation with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). Participants in the course were mainly managers and employees of shipping companies, port and drydock operatives, and government officials – particularly from the maritime administration, environmental or biosecurity agencies and port state control.
In Fiji, participants also benefited from a visit to a drydock slipway to illustrate in person some of the key aspects discussed during the course.
GloFouling Partnerships is also developing a publication outlining recommendations for the development and evaluation of Biofouling Management Plans and Biofouling Record Books, which will be published in due course. To see other publications issued by the project see here.
