Hapag-Lloyd AG is the latest entity to join the Global
Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety, an initiative launched in June
2020 by the IMO GloFouling Partnerships project. The initiative works to
promote collaboration with the private sector to address two of the most
pressing environmental issues of our time: invasive species and greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions.
The new member of the GIA joins forces with an expanding
group of leading private sector champions representing a wide range of maritime
industries affected by biofouling, including shipping, aquaculture, offshore
oil and gas and ocean renewable energies. Click here for full news item.
Biofouling is the build-up of aquatic organisms, such as
algae or small animals, on marine surfaces that can lead to the introduction of
potentially invasive species to new environments, where they
may threaten native species and cause irreversible damage
to biodiversity. Additionally, biofouling increases the drag of ships, forcing
them to burn more fuel to maintain speed.
Glofouling Project Manager, Lilia Khodjet El Khil, welcomed
the latest expansion as an important step towards finding solutions to improve
the hydrodynamic performance of ships and thereby contribute to a significant
reduction of greenhouse gas emission of the shipping industry.
Further private sector companies are expected to join the
GIA in time for its first GIA Task Force meeting, planned for the end of
October, where members will convene to discuss and kick-off the GIA work.