GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships

We are pleased to announce the commencement of the 3rd Global Project Task Force Meeting of the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships. Hosted by the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, this final meeting of the GloFouling Partnerships project brings together key stakeholders, including the Global Environment Facility (project donor), UNDP (implementing partner), 12 Lead Partnering Countries, 14 Partnering Countries, UNESCO Ocean, Regional Coordinating Organizations, Strategic Partners, and our sister project, the IMO-NORAD TEST Biofouling project, alongside the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres. This meeting will serve as a platform to highlight the progress, milestones, and achievements of the project from 2019 to 2025 while also facilitating discussions on the terminal evaluation and lessons learned. Additionally, participants will explore the proposed post-project strategy aimed at ensuring long-term capacity building and sustainability in biofouling management efforts. International Maritime Organization, Global Environment Facility, UNDP, IW:LEARN, IMO-NORAD TEST Biofouling project, Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

🌊 The hidden crisis threatening our oceans: Invasive Aquatic Species and Biofouling In this eye-opening video, we dive deep into the silent, unseen threat facing our oceans: invasive species brought by ships and the devastating impact of biofouling. 🚢 From the shores of Portugal to the remote corners of the Arctic, these invaders are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and local economies. 🐠 You'll hear firsthand stories from fishermen whose livelihoods are being destroyed by the unstoppable spread of invasive seaweed 🌿, like Rugulopterix Okamurae, and how this “silent invader” is affecting coastal communities and tourism worldwide. 🏖️ But it doesn’t stop there. We explore how invasive species hitch a ride on ships’ hulls and ballast water, traveling across oceans 🌐, and how even the most isolated environments, like Antarctica, are at risk of invasion. As shipping routes expand and climate change accelerates, these threats are growing, and they’re harder to stop than ever. ⚠️ 🔍 What’s at stake? The destruction of local habitats and species 🌱  Economic collapse of fisheries, tourism, and aquaculture 💸  Increased fuel costs and GHG emissions due to biofouling 🚢 However, it’s not all bad news. In this video, we’ll also highlight innovative solutions being developed to tackle biofouling and invasive species, from cutting-edge cleaning technologies to international collaborations aimed at safeguarding our oceans. 🤝 Join us on this urgent journey to protect marine biodiversity, tackle biofouling, and combat the rise of invasive species. International Maritime Organization UNDP Global Environment Facility IW:LEARN AkzoNobel, CleanSubSea Limited, ECOsubsea, Greensea IQ, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Hempel A/S, HullWiper Ltd, Jotun, Nippon Paint Marine, Lloyd's Register, PPG, GLOBAL SLM, Tas Global Co. Ltd https://lnkd.in/ecjDbYGm

In September we were fortunate enough to attend the 10th Global Environment Facility International Waters Conference in Punta del Este Uruguay. Alongside our IMO colleagues GEF-UNDP-IMO GloNoise Partnership and our project partners we witnessed the excellent work of other GEF projects and explored opportunities for collaboration. The report of this fantastic event is now available here: https://lnkd.in/eZRGZ4u3 See if you can spot two representatives of our and GloNoise's Lead Partner Countries front and centre on the 2nd page!

Take a look at the highlights of the 3rd R&D Forum of the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships held in Busan, Korea, in November 2024! The video captures the essence of the event, featuring expert presentations, dynamic panel discussions, interactive exhibits, hands-on learning sessions, and inspiring site visits. Thanks to the generous support of the Republic of Korea, its Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the KRISO(Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering), participants showcased groundbreaking research and innovative solutions in marine biofouling and sustainable shipping. With over 250 participants and representatives from 30 countries, including governments, industry, academia, NGOs, and project partners, the forum fostered collaboration, advanced biofouling management, and drove global efforts to protect marine biodiversity and address climate change. Check out the video below showcasing this incredible highlight of 2024! https://lnkd.in/d5cCN_XV International Maritime Organization, UNDP, Global Environment Facility, IW:LEARN, IMO-NORAD TEST Biofouling project

May 2025 be the year where our ships stay squeaky clean, invasive species stay off the guest list, and biofouling finds a new hobby. Best wishes for a smooth sailing in 2025 from the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships to all!

3rd GloFouling R&D Forum and Exhibition on Biofouling Prevention and Management for Maritime Industries under the theme of "Shaping the future of biofouling management" has finished last week. The event saw over 250 participants in attendance, who had a unique opportunity to share their knowledge on the latest developments in the Biofouling sector, with a key outcome of participants emphasizing the need for a unified and mandatory global regime on biofouling management. The forum was generously hosted by the Republic of Korea and co-organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and KRISO(Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering) from 4 to 8 November in Busan - the city that houses 6th largest port in the world. News item and photo album: https://lnkd.in/eurmpyRd The #BiofoulingForum would have not been possible without: * its moderator Jon Stewart; * IMO-NORAD TEST Biofouling project - our sister project; * all of those who agreed to welcome us during the site visits: ORIENT SHIPYARD CO., LTD., KRISO(Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering), Chiro SLM-Global, Tas Global Co. Ltd, Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) and Samsung Heavy Industries; * 61 speakers, 10 exhibitors and 10 poster authors, of whom there are too many to mention individually without leaving someone out; * projects implementing and funding partners: Global Environment Facility, UNDP, International Maritime Organization, and Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation; and * GloFouling Partnerships and TEST Biofouling projects coordination units: Lilia Khodjet El Khil, PhD, Will Griffiths, Jurga Šaulė (Shaule), Marija Vranic, Richard B., and Ada Schmidtkunz - M.A., M.Sc.

On the final day of the 3rd GloFouling Partnerships R&D Forum programme, participants had an incredible visit to the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST), where they explored groundbreaking research and innovative facilities dedicated to marine science. KIOST’s impressive library of marine samples and the biological sample repository, showcased the storage of specimens from Korea’s coastal waters. Participants learned how these resources support scientific research and contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity. Participants boarded a research vessel to see first-hand the equipment and monitoring software systems used to collect samples. The group also visited Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) land-based test facility including water basins used to conduct tests for ballast water management systems, gaining valuable insights into how this facility operates ensuring they effectively manage and neutralize invasive species transported in ballast water, which is crucial for protecting marine ecosystems worldwide. A unique highlight of the day was a visit to Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the world's leading shipbuilders, where participants observed the latest advancements in shipbuilding technology innovations. During the tour, participants saw processes behind the construction of eco-friendly vessels, such as LNG-powered ships and hybrid systems, designed to reduce emissions and environmental impact. The tour offered an up-close view of the scale and precision involved in producing some of the largest and most sustainable vessels navigating our seas. This visit wrapped up a productive and inspiring five-day forum. A heartfelt thank you to all the speakers, panelists, hosts, exhibitors, co-organizers and everyone who contributed to making this event a success! International Maritime Organization, Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships, MTCC Africa MTCC Caribbean MTCC Latin America Amelia Bola Feng Zhou, KRISO(Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering), Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

On Day 4, industry leaders and policymakers held insightful discussions on the shifting landscape of biofouling regulations. Highlights included Chris Scianni’s presentation on California’s biofouling regulations, Yasmin Gabay’s insights on New Zealand’s vessel requirements, and Sveinung Oftedal’s overview of Norway’s biofouling initiatives. These sessions underscored the need for a unified, mandatory global framework to standardize biofouling control efforts. Dr Bev Mackenzie emphasized the application of the 2023 IMO Biofouling Guidelines, while updates on the development of ISO standards for in-water cleaning were shared by Irene Øvstebø Tvedten and Mario Tamburri. Sahan Abeysekara also explained the "clean hull notation" concept, underscoring the importance of balancing effective biofouling control with environmental protection. Presentations on hull cleaning and fuel efficiency offered valuable insights into reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving vessel performance. Beom Jin Park explained the impact of hull cleaning on ship performance, while Prof. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama, shared collaborative research on hull roughness drag penalties. Dr. Bagus Nugroho provided a comprehensive assessment of skin-friction drag on recently cleaned ships, showcasing innovative measurement and computational methods. Abigail Robinson explored ways to quantify biofouling impacts on fuel consumption, underlining the potential to curb emissions and fuel loss effectively. The afternoon parallel session chaired by Chris Scianni from California State Lands Commission offered targeted insights into the risk management in ports with featured presentations on port biodiversity, with Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr. exploring biofouling ecology in Manila Bay and Dr. Jasmine Ferrario discussing biodiversity enhancements to limit non-native species. Marion Vial’s presentation on biofouling in the English Channel, where findings from a two-year monitoring study compared two types of coatings applied to two vessels, providing valuable data on biofouling impacts and coating performance in this region. Simultaneously, the Industry Support to IMO Member States session addressed biofouling prevention and management challenges at the national level, with contributions from Agampodi Jagath Mendis Gunasekara (Sri Lanka), Patricia Ayala Carbajal (Peru), and Ricardo Coutinho (Brazil) exploring how to connect efforts for a holistic approach. Thanking all who contributed and we are excited for the day ahead where participants would have the opportunity to visit Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST), Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) and Samsung Heavy Industries. International Maritime Organization, Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships

During the week of the 3rd GloFouling R&D forum an exhibition of technology and research has been organized. Exhibition has provided the opportunity to open more in depth discussions and demonstration between the researchers, companies representatives and participants. Among the booth exhibitors were: KRISO(Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering), Tas Global Co. Ltd, KCC Corporation, Chiro SLM-Global, I-Tech AB, Developers of Selektope®, AkzoNobel, CleanSubSea Limited, Fleet Robotics, Hempel A/S and Nippon Paint Marine. Among the poster exhibitors were: Amin Al-Qawasmeh, Byungsoo Yoon, Eric Rendon, Haroon Rashid, Nicholas Hutchins, Seongjun Bae, Suha Abu-Zeid, Tim Heusinger von Waldegge, Young Hun Min and HullWiper Ltd. #BiofoulingForum, IMO-NORAD TEST Biofouling project, UNDP, Global Environment Facility, Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries