The IMO executed GloFouling Partnerships Project and the Government of the Philippines have organised the first delivery of a newly-developed general training course on biofouling management. The course introduced participants to the key features of marine biology and environmental impacts of invasive species; the range of antifouling coatings, marine growth prevention systems, and in-water grooming and cleaning technologies available to prevent the biofouling issue; the main aspects of IMO's Biofouling Guidelines; and the current status of national regulations around the world.

The new training package will be deployed during 2021 in the other 11 Lead Partnering Countries of the GloFouling project. National maritime training academies and institutions will be supported to incorporate the course into their teaching programme and deliver it on a regular basis.

More than 50 participants attended the online training course (14-17 December) using fully online resources. Opening the course, Vice Admiral Robert A. Empedrad, Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines, highlighted the importance of improved biofouling management as a tool for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from ships and a key aspect for achieving the targets set by the international community to reduce the carbon footprint of the shipping industry.