Invasive News

With everything going on around the maritime industry these days — from a Presidential Executive Order to Make U.S. Maritime Great Again, to bipartisan legislation in Congress to boost our shipyards and merchant marine, to the import tariff rollercoaster ride we’re all on — it’s easy to forget some other important U.S. maritime policy initiatives whose benefits are just over the horizon. One such initiative we mustn’t lose sight of is the effort by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S.

In April this year, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee approved guidance on in-water cleaning of ships' biofouling and also approved a proposal for the development of a legally binding framework for the management of biofouling.The move comes in recognition that biofouling is a key contributor invasive species and to greenhouse gas emissions. Biofouling can increase fuel consumption by up to 30%, costing the shipping industry $40-50 billion annually and driving excess…

There hasn’t been an invasives species introduced to the Great Lakes from ballast water since 2006. So, what’s the problem now?As far as Transport Canada is concerned: “Scientific sampling to date consistently shows that ballast water management systems (BWMS) used in the Great Lakes reduce organism densities in ballast water discharges by over 99%, consistent with global evidence. As crews gain experience in operating these systems, performance continues to improve, contributing to the ongoing protection of Canada’s waters from invasive species.”  However…

BIO-UV Group has completed the first commercial deployment of its containerized BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system (BWTS) at Port-la-Nouvelle in southern France, supporting the installation of the pioneering EFGL floating offshore wind project in the Mediterranean.The landmark project, operated by Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) – a project owned by Ocean Winds and Banque des Territoires, marks the first floating offshore wind development in Occitanie region (French…

The ocean takes center stage on World Maritime Day 2025, as the IMO celebrates how the industry is stepping up action to protect the ocean.This year’s World Maritime Day, observed globally on 25 September, focuses on the sector’s impact on the marine environment, and what it can do to reduce pollution, curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent biodiversity loss.Secretary-General of the IMO Arsenio Dominguez said: “IMO has, for many decades, worked to strike the right balance to ensure that the shipping industry is not the problem but the solution.

Scientists have detected the DNA of an invasive marine species in Arctic Canada suggesting the region’s waters are no longer cold enough to be a natural barrier.The study, published in Global Change Biology by researchers at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), provides the first evidence of a non-native invasive barnacle species.Climate change is warming the Arctic nearly four times faster than anywhere else on Earth. As a result, Canada’s Arctic waters are losing their thermal barrier against invasive species.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez has applauded the important commitments made at the United Nations Ocean Conference (9-13 June) in Nice, France, while urging countries to deliver on these promises as soon as possible.Dominguez said: “Commitments are a necessary first step, but they are not the finish line. We must now move beyond the statements and turn those words into real, measurable action. That will take all stakeholders coming together…

Proactive measures supporting marine biodiversity create operational efficiencies and attract commercial incentives, according to a new Lloyd’s Register (LR) report, launched June 11 at the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France.The Shipping Biodiversity Report offers practical, science-based guidance and potential actions for shipowners, operators, regulators and policymakers seeking to protect marine biodiversity while maintaining efficient operations.The report connects environmental impact with financial and reputational exposure.

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has renewed its cooperation with Ava Ocean in a deal that will see the Norwegian company implement Inmarsat’s latest fully managed bonded connectivity service, NexusWave, on board its new non-invasive scallop harvesting vessel later this year.Specializing in sustainable scallop harvesting in the Barents Sea, Ava Ocean—formerly known as Tau Tech—already relies on Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress to meet the connectivity needs of its existing ship. Adopting…

The shipping industry faces mounting regulatory pressure to mitigate the transfer of invasive species via hull biofouling. The global detrimental impacts of sea vomit (Didemnum vexillum) is just one stark example of the damage caused by unmanaged hull fouling. The solution is clear: closed-loop hull cleaning must become an industry standard, writes Abigail Robinson, Vice President of Sustainability at ECOsubsea, applauding the IMO's recent decisive action to align regulations…

The currents in Singapore can be so strong that divers cleaning fouling from a ship’s hull can feel like they are swimming in a river. There’s times when it’s just not safe for them to be there.The currents can be a problem for robotic cleaners as well, but for ship operators, the bigger problem is having to wait long after cargo operations have concluded while the hull is cleaned by either method.And yet, many of the pressures they face for keeping the hull clean – invasive species…

The US Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance recently released its U.S. Port State Control Annual Report for 2024 highlighting a 200% increase in untreated ballast water discharges compared to 2023.With this result, there’s still a risk of invasive species arriving in ballast water. And a review of research into the organisms found in ballast water published in March highlights just how limited current knowledge is.The study found that 53.5% of the sampling effort of in-situ ballast water has been concentrated in North America…

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) met for its 83rd session in person at IMO Headquarters in London from April 7-11, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Harry Conway (Liberia), with Mr. Hanqiang Tan (Singapore) as Vice-Chair.Highlights included:Tackling climate changeThe Committee finalized and approved the draft legal text for the "IMO Net-Zero Framework," to be included as a new chapter in Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has achieved another step towards establishing a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships globally, aiming for net-zero emissions by or around, i.e close to 2050. The IMO Net-zero Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector. Approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MEPC 83) from April 7-11, 2025, the measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will meet for its 83rd session from April 7 to 11 April, and efforts to reduce GHG emissions from ships will be top on the agenda.Tackling climate change - Reduction of GHG emissions from shipsThe 2023 IMO GHG Strategy outlines a set of “mid-term measures” aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. These measures should consist of:• a technical element: a goal-based marine fuel standard designed to gradually lower the GHG intensity of marine fuels…

Petrobras obtained approval from the country's environmental agency to clear corals from the underside of the drilling vessel it plans to use in the Foz do Amazonas region, Reuters reports. Its February 10 request was granted on Monday for the vessel the state-run firm will send to drill off the coast of the northern Amapa state if it obtains a long-sought license to explore the environmentally sensitive region.Due to the corals being a potentially invasive species if moved to another biome…

Greensea IQ expanded its EverClean operations with a new service center in Miami, Florida. The new facility, located in Hialeah, Florida, will house both office and workshop space. The Miami location will accommodate an expanded EverClean support team dedicated to servicing customers in the region. With Miami serving as a global hub for cruise operations, the expansion furthers Greensea IQ's ability to provide ship operators with an efficient and environmentally responsible hull maintenance solution.“As the cruise industry continues to prioritize operational efficiency and sustainability…

There’s a tendency for owners to stick with the coatings they are familiar with, but environmental concerns, particularly regarding marine biodiversity, are providing fresh opportunities for them to reconsider.Measuring hull coating performance from noon reports yields around 350 data points over a five-year docking cycle after including full loaded sailing days and excluding adverse weather days etc.But it’s become a more sophisticated challenge now that owners and operators have to factor in decarbonization regulations…

Alfa Laval has signed an agreement to acquire NRG Marine, a U.K.-based provider of ultrasonic anti-fouling solutions for marine, oil and gas, and industrial applications.The move aligns with Alfa Laval’s strategy to provide its customers with environmentally friendly solutions that significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and extend the asset’s lifecycle. Closing of the acquisition is expected during the second quarter of 2025.By incorporating NRG Marine’s ultrasonic technology into its portfolio…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted the maritime industry’s first Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval to GIT Coatings.This new approval establishes a benchmark for antifouling coatings, responding to the increasing demand for effective biofouling management. Such advancements are crucial for decarbonization initiatives and for the protection of marine ecosystems.As the first classification society to offer this service, LR provides ship owners and operators with verified assurances regarding the performance of antifouling coatings…

Regulators and shipping experts will gather at a unique conference in Rotterdam this November to consider the scope for redesigning the exterior and interior surfaces of shipping containers.The aim: to reduce the risk of them becoming contaminated by plant or animals and inadvertently contributing to the global spread of invasive pests.The one-day event on November 11 will be hosted by the secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).Representatives of National and Regional Plant Protection Organisations will join representatives of the manufacturers…

Wallenius Marine has christened its newest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel, Future Way, during a ceremony in Emden, Germany on Monday.Built by CIMC Raffles in China, the new 200-meter-long ship is the first of two car carriers that will go on charter for Volkswagen between Europe and North America. The vessel's cargo capacity is equivalent to 6,500 cars, which are loaded and unloaded efficiently through a center ramp system consisting of a long ramp serving all decks.The…

Wendy Laursen’s article Getting the Numbers Right, published in the August issue of Maritime Reporter, sparked debate from ballast water management experts. Here Jad Mouawad, CEO of Mouawad Consulting, provides his feedback on the article which outlines the challenges the industry has faced trying to reduce the occurrence of invasive marine species transferred by ballast water.We have now the vast majority of ships fitted with ballast water management systems (BWMS). I would say…