Over 100 delegates from 10 countries attended two days of presentations and spirited discussion regarding the issues caused by biofouling and marine pests.

The 2^nd Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Islands (ANZPAC) Workshop on Biofouling for Sustainable Shipping was held at the Melbourne Convention Centre on the 16^th and 17^th of September 2015.

The workshop was sponsored by GRD Franmarine, Hempel Paints, Maritime Industry Australia Limited (MIAL), the International Paint & Printing Ink Council (IPPIC), the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST), Rightship and Eslink Services.

The aim of the workshop was to bring together representatives from maritime industries, governments and research organisations to develop effective and practical management strategies.  

Biofouling is one of the largest problems concerning shipping and significantly affects maritime industries ability to underpin trade, biosecurity and economic development with minimal environmental impact.

Biofouling affects fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, slipping intervals, general maintenance, internal water system efficiency, vessel safety, quarantine arrivals processes and port entry requirements, as well as being a significant vector for marine pest transport which has caused billions of dollars of infrastructure and environmental damage around the world. 

The themes of ANZPAC 2015 included:

The keynote address by Mr Justin Gadbois, General Manager of Sustainability, Maersk Line – Asia Pacific, Singapore illustrated how the management of biofouling issues is core business towards their global strategy. Other presentations outlined the current challenges towards implementation of biofouling regulation, guidelines, compliance and conventions. 

Scientific research to address biofouling such as Dr Serina Wilkins work on discrete sonic mitigation frequencies and Dr Richard Piola work testing UV emitting LED lights to repel species settlement in seachests and on vessel hulls was thoroughly innovative. Associate Professor Jason Monty and colleagues’ work modelling biofouling effects on ship dynamics should revolutionise the calculation of drag on vessels due to biofouling and may be useful in maintenance scheduling in the future. Research and management issues were discussed in presentations from professionals based in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK and USA. The workshop was round up by Chair John Lewis from Eslink Services who led some thought provoking workshop panel discussions about current management versus evolving ecological theory.

The resulting discussions from the workshop will feed into the papers being written by the IMarEST Biofouling Management Expert Group (BMEG) which in turn are often raised at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meetings in London, UK.

The programme and details on the list of speakers can be found at the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST) website.    

The Organising Committee for ANZPAC 2015 were:

 

 

Dr Michael Sierp
AIMS Member