The federal government has adopted the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) guidelines to prevent the menace caused by ship biofouling in waterways.

Bashir Jamoh, the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said this at the NIMASA and the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCC) Africa biofouling management training on Monday in Lagos.

The training on the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (test biofouling) projects for partnering countries had the theme, ‘The Place of Technology in the Management of Marine Biofouling.

Biofouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on wet surfaces that have a mechanical function, causing structural or other functional deficiencies.

IMO guidelines for the control and management of ship’s biofouling are an international instrument aimed at addressing and maintaining the efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability of maritime operations as well as preventing the spread of invasive species in waterways.

According to Mr Jamoh, biofouling poses a huge threat to Nigeria’s transition to the blue economy due to its environmental burdens.

He listed such burdens as low productivity, biodiversity, lower resilience to climate change, economic burdens (financial loss due to low productivity), and huge prevention and control costs, among others.

Mr Jamoh added that biofouling increases the hydrodynamic drag of ships, which results in increased fuel consumption, reduced speed, and decreased manoeuvrability.

“Shipping is at the crux of global trading, and the economy, with about 90 per cent of world trade and commerce, is facilitated through shipping.

“Studies, however, revealed that ships serve as channels for the transportation of harmful non-indigenous invasive aquatic species (IAS).

“These organisms attach themselves to the outer surface and niche areas of a ship and are then translocated from one ecoregion to another.

“The process by which these organisms attach themselves to the ship and other surfaces is referred to as biofouling,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria’s economy relies heavily on international trade, with shipping being a key component of import and export activities.

This, he said, had inevitably exposed the nation to threats of the IAS transfer into our territorial waters.

Mr Jamoh added that technological advancements had led to some innovative solutions by experts to aid in the control and mitigation of biofouling.

He, however, said that some of these technologies exhibit complexity in the course of their application.

“This workshop on the test biofouling project is an initiative of IMO in close partnership with the MTCC to assist developing countries in advancing their knowledge about and facilitating the implementation of IMO Biofouling Guidelines owing to the complexity of biofouling management and the technologies available.

“This session will involve showcasing the newest technologies and their applications, including cost-effective practices, related benefits for the environment, and the efficiency of shipping,” he said.

He stressed that the importance of protecting and conserving the seas, oceans, and their inhabitants cannot be overemphasised.

Also, Lydia Ngugi, head of MTCC Africa, said the aim and mandate of the MTCC were to build capacity for climate change mitigation in the shipping and maritime industries in Africa.

“We are here to deliberate and have a technical workshop on the test biofouling programme that they are running in conjunction with partnering countries, and Nigeria is one of them. We have representatives from Comoros and Somalia.

“With regards to technology, IMO has in place the biofouling guidelines, and its aim is to ensure that there is sustainable development the world over, especially in the shipping industry, and this is linked to the United Nations Development Goals.

“With regards to the scope, we all know that a healthy ocean is good for the entire environment as well as the shipping industry,” Ms Ngugi said.

Dr Jose Matheickal, director, department of partnerships and projects, IMO, said Nigeria had contributed significantly to IMO’s previous policies.

Mr Matheickal also urged Nigeria to follow suit with biofouling guidelines.

“The event is very meaningful and serves as a platform for information sharing, and there is a need for collaboration and coordination from stakeholders,” he said.

Commenting, Funmi Folorunso, the president of the African Shipowners Association, urged all the stakeholders to take biofouling very seriously.

Ms Folorunso noted that biofouling works against shipowners that fly African flags, stressing that the outcome of the meeting would centre on ways to mitigate its effect.

Oma Ofodile, deputy director, marine environment management department, NIMASA, and MTCC Africa focal point, urged all participants not to be left behind on the IMO call for zero emissions by 2050.

“NIMASA has done a lot to reduce emissions, and the training is one of the ways to close the gap in emissions from vessels,” Ms Ofodile said.

(NAN)