Government officials and representatives from the private sector came together for a workshop in Lami Bay, Fiji (2-3 June) to develop a national approach to regulating in-water cleaning (IWC) of ship's biofouling.
Cleaning ship hulls reduces the spread of invasive aquatic species and cuts fuel consumption and emissions. However, cleaning can also disperse fouling organisms and ship's coating substances into local waters.
Clear guidelines are therefore essential to avoid such unintended negative effects. The workshop focused on IMO's in-water cleaning Guidance, approved last April by the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 83).
Global guidelines, national action
The workshop brought together five government agencies and 14 private sector organisations, including ship owners and operators, cleaning service providers, port and marina operators to discuss ways to implement the in-water cleaning guidance in Fiji.
It was co-organised with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), supported by the Maritime Technology Centre (MTCC) for the Pacific hosted by the South Pacific Community (SPC).
The workshop was delivered as part of the IMO-Norad TEST Biofouling Project, a global initiative implemented by IMO to help developing countries manage biofouling, prevent invasive species transfer, and reduce shipping emissions.
Key topics
Building on a previous training on biofouling inspection and in-water cleaning technology completed in 2025, participants covered:
- Potential impacts of in-water cleaning (based on ship movement history as well as type, condition and age of antifouling coating applied);
- Types of in-water cleaning methods being proposed (whether by divers or technology, physical contact or water jet);
- Whether water and effluence should be captured, and how the efficacy of this should be determined; and
- How cleaning operations will be recorded and reported.
At the conclusion of the sessions, stakeholders reported increased understanding of the importance of the capture of waste effluence and a coordinated, holistic approach. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) acknowledged the workshop will inform future national biofouling strategies.
IMO will continue supporting Fiji's capacity development as the country explores next steps in national policy.
