• BIMCO Biofouling Survey 2024

    Have your say on topics such as inspections & in-water cleaning

  • Why it is essential you participate?

    In 2023 the IMO adopted new “Guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species " (the Biofouling Guidelines) which are intended to provide a globally consistent approach to the management of biofouling- . At present work at IMO is focussed on providing guidance on inspections and in-water cleaning - two elements that have significant influence on ship operations. 

    As such it is extremely important that shipowners have their say in what is practical and what is needed to realise the benefits of biofouling management in, for example, energy efficiency and GHG reductions. BIMCO will use the outcome to provide evidence-based information on industry practices to help ensure that IMO guidelines are pragmatic and practical.

     About the survey

    This years’ survey builds on previous BIMCO biofouling surveys conducted in 2018 and 2021 to allow us to determine whether there has been a change in biofouling management practices. It also delves more deeply into how inspections and in-water cleaning are being carried out through the development of case studies to allow us to inform, in particular, IMO member states. We expect the survey to take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete depending on the amount of information you are happy to supply.

    When you have completed the questionnaire, just click the SUBMIT button to send it BIMCO. By doing so, you allow BIMCO to use the information as stated in the confidentiality and data protection management statement below.

    Confidentiality and data protection management of information

    We will use the information you provide for the purposes mentioned above. A statistical analysis of the survey’s results will ensure complete anonymity. The anonymised data will exclude your organisation's name and names of ships or any contact information supplied. 

    Your contact information if supplied will be added to the BIMCO membership database, if it is not already there. BIMCO will not pass on your personal information to third parties.

    We may contact you if we have questions about the information supplied.

    By completing and submitting this questionnaire, you have given us your consent to keep and use your personal information in accordance with this notice.

    Thank you for participating. 

    Should you need assistance in completing the questionnaire, please contact marinesurveys@bimco.org 

  • Section 1: Your Biofouling Management Practices

    This section looks at your entire fleet of ships and broad biofouling management practices.

  • For the purpose of the survey the following definitions are used:

    Biofouling management: the action taken to minimise the transfer of invasive aquatic species by the ship (often with a co-benefit of efficiency) including ship design, selection of antifouling systems, hull cleaning and maintenance and maintaining a plan and record book.

    Proactive cleaning: the periodic removal of microfouling on ships' hulls to prevent or minimise attachment of macrofouling. It is often called hull grooming.

    Reactive cleaning: a corrective action during which biofouling is removed from a ship's hull and niche areas either in-water with capture or in dry dock.

  • The total should not add up to more than 100%. Please check your numbers and try again. Thank you. 

  •

  • Section 2: Biofouling Management Case Study - Inspection that then required a management action

    In order to ensure that we can provide information that supports the development of practical in-water cleaning and inspection guidance we would like you to provide information on a specific instance of when a ship you own or operate was inspected (in any form) and details on any mitigation action that arose as a result of the inspection. The survey aims to ask questions that relate to information that would be contained within the Biofouling Management Plan/Record Book for a ship to assist in information gathering. You will be given the option to add up to 3 examples if you wish.

  • Thank-you for agreeing to provide a second example. 

  • Thank-you for agreeing to provide a third example. 

  • Section 3: Biofouling Management Case Study - Proactive Cleaning

    If you use proactive cleaning (the periodic removal of microfouling on ships' hulls to prevent or minimise attachment of macrofouling) on any of your ships we would like you to provide a case study using a single-ship example
  •

  • Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey. Your input will be used by BIMCO to enable us to ensure future developments on in-water cleaning and inspection are practical and support industry.  Please ensure that you click the submit button below to send your answers to BIMCO. 

  • Should be Empty: