Shipboard Biofouling Concerns and Regulations This article addresses environmental risks of ship biofouling, emphasising the importance of stricter regulations and the IMO's 2023 guidelines for effective management, promoting environmental compliance and cost savings. Loss Prevention Taslim Imad Published: January 29, 2024 Contact author Download article pdf Overview   Which authorities are regulating hull fouling? International Convention on Anti-Fouling (AFS)   What is expected in the future?   Overview It has long been recognised that ships are a vector by which aquatic organisms can be transferred between marine environments. This has potential to inflict environmental damage through the transfer of organisms that can overwhelm others in the environment to which they have been introduced. The principal cause of the introduction of invasive aquatic species is through the discharge of ballast water, and that risk has been addressed by the Ballast Water Management Convention which came into force in September 2017. However, ballast water is not the only means by which potentially damaging aquatic organisms can be transferred, and there is now increasing focus upon the risk posed by the biofouling on the underwater hulls of ships. Such biofouling can lead to the accumulation of organisms that pose a serious threat to sensitive or protected marine ecosystems. In order to combat this issue, several countries have implemented strict monitoring and control measures, with vessels being required to undergo inspection and cleaning before being allowed to undertake operations in controlled areas. Failure to comply with the requirements of these states can result in significant unplanned costs and the potential for reputational damage in the context of ESG and Sustainability.  As an example of the risk posed by biofouling, the presence of high-risk invasive species on a localised section of its hull, a passenger ship was prevented from sailing through the