UK: MIN on new IMO voluntary guidelines

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued a Marine Information Notice MIN 706 (M+F) regarding new IMO voluntary guidelines.

This notice was published on 8 February 2024.

Summary

This Marine Information Note emphasizes the recent adoption of voluntary guidelines by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concerning biofouling and underwater radiated noise.

The 2023 Biofouling Guidelines

The Biofouling Guidelines aim to establish a globally consistent approach for managing biofouling on ships to reduce the transfer of invasive aquatic species.
Adopted at the eightieth session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, these guidelines replace the 2011 Biofouling Guidelines.
Resolution MEPC.378(80) on www.IMO.org provides access to the 2023 Biofouling Guidelines.
Ships are encouraged to utilize these guidelines to minimize the risk of invasive species and improve hydrodynamic performance, thus enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing air emissions.
Feedback on the guidelines' usage can be submitted to environment@mcga.gov.uk for consideration during the next revision discussions at the IMO.
Interested parties willing to share their experiences with these guidelines are invited to email environment@mcga.gov.uk for inclusion in discussions.

The 2023 Underwater Radiated Noise Guidelines

These guidelines recognize commercial shipping as a significant contributor to underwater radiated noise (URN), adversely affecting various marine life forms and coastal Indigenous communities.
Intended for designers, shipbuilders, and operators, the draft guidelines offer approaches to reduce URN and establish mechanisms for noise reduction efforts.
Approved at the eightieth session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, these guidelines supersede the 2014 Underwater Noise Guidelines.
Circular MEPC.1/Circ.906 on www.IMO.org provides access to the 2023 Underwater Radiated Noise Guidelines.
Ships are encouraged to implement these guidelines to mitigate URN effects and provide feedback on their effectiveness.
Feedback on the guidelines' application can be sent to environment@mcga.gov.uk to inform future discussions at the IMO.
Interested parties are invited to share their experiences with these guidelines by contacting environment@mcga.gov.uk.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):