The Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety met (20 June) to discuss changes to its governance structure as well as its ongoing work to support IMO’s objectives of protecting marine biodiversity and decarbonizing shipping, through improved biofouling management. 

GIA for Marine Biosafety elections

The GIA re-elected Mr. Simon Doran as its chair, and elected a new vice-chair, Ms Abigail Robinson to lead the group’s task force until May 2025. 

Mr. Doran, Business Development Manager - Marine Services at AkzoNobel, was re-elected as chair, for the third time since the creation of the alliance in 2020. Ms. Robinson, Vice President of Sustainability at ECOsubsea, takes on the newly-created role of vice-chair, becoming the first woman to serve as a presiding officer for GIA meetings.  

They will hold their posts for the duration of a year until the closure of GloFouling Partnerships project on 31 May 2025. 

New member 

The GIA welcomed its newest member: PPG Protective & Marine Coatings. PPG develops paints, coatings and materials for various technologies including shipping. 

It joins the alliance’s 16-strong membership, spanning maritime industry representatives, including anti-fouling solutions providers, shipping companies, technology researchers, classification societies and international associations.  

Members work together to identify shared challenges in the area of biofouling management, and commission research and develop awareness raising material to support the shipping industry.  

Progress of GIA activities 

The GIA discussed the progress of ongoing activities, including: 

  • Documentary film about the impacts of invasive aquatic species, to be launched later this year; 
  • Review of the “Compilation and Comparative Analysis of Existing and Emerging Regulations, Standards and Practices Related to Ships’ Biofouling Management”; 
  • Study on port perspectives on biofouling management; and 
  • Study on identifying changes to water quality as a result of in-water cleaning of the biofouling on ships’ hulls.  

All activities are on track for completion in 2024. 

Next meeting 

The next meeting of the GIA for Marine Biosafety will be held in person at IMO headquarters in London on 3 October, in the margins of eighty-second session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 82).