Biofouling Guidelines

IMO guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimise the transfer of invasive aquatic species. The 2023 Biofouling Guidelines (MEPC.378(80)) revised the original 2011 version, providing more detailed inspection, cleaning, and recordkeeping requirements. The Guidelines are voluntary at IMO level but are mandatory under several national regimes — Australia and New Zealand require biofouling management before arrival, and California has biofouling regulations for vessels calling at California ports. Class societies offer biofouling notations.