Latest News & Events
Early in September the IMO Media service reported that Hapag-Lloyd AG was the latest entity to join the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety, an initiative launched in June 2020 by the IMO GloFouling Partnerships project. Here the initiative works to promote collaboration with the private sector to address two of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: invasive species and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
At this time the new member of the GIA joins forces with an expanding group of leading private sector champions representing a wide range of maritime industries affected by biofouling, including shipping, aquaculture, offshore oil and gas and ocean renewable energies.
There is a useful introductory article on the Alliance to be found here: www.glofouling.imo.org/post/new-member-joins-the-global-industry-alliance-for-marine-biosafety
Biofouling is the build-up of aquatic organisms, such as algae or small animals, on marine surfaces that can lead to the introduction of potentially invasive species to new environments, where they may threaten native species and cause irreversible damage to biodiversity. Additionally, biofouling increases the drag of ships, forcing them to burn more fuel to maintain speed.
Late Friday (11 September) the IMO issued a Joint Statement with other UN entities to urge action on the crew change crisis
In the agreed document all Governments were called upon to immediately recognize seafarers as keyworkers, and to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the shipping sector.
The Statement was issued above the signatures of several UN agencies including IMO, ILO, UNCTAD, FAO and ICAO to urge all UN Member States to take action to urgently resolve the crew change crisis to avert a humanitarian disaster that will also affect the safety of shipping, the protection of the marine environment, the continuation of efficient trade and the recovery of the world economy.
The Joint Statement can be download here:
