NIMASA teams with IMO and others against biofouling to protect marine environment
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has joined forces with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Africa to address issues related to biofouling and protect the marine environment.
Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of NIMASA, emphasized the need to tackle the negative effects of biofouling and prevent the transfer of invasive species by ships in the country’s territorial waters to promote national food security.
Biofouling, the accumulation of organisms on ships’ hulls, can have detrimental effects on biodiversity, ecology, health, and the economy. It increases hydrodynamic drag, leading to higher fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by ships. This issue is particularly important for Nigeria, a nation heavily reliant on international trade and shipping, as it exposes the country to the threat of harmful non-indigenous Invasive Aquatic Species (IAS) being transferred into its territorial waters.
Nigeria has adopted the IMO Guideline for the Control and Management of Ship’s Biofouling to address this concern and maintain the efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability of maritime operations while preventing the spread of invasive species. Technological advancements have led to innovative solutions to control and mitigate biofouling, although some of these technologies are complex in their application.
This collaboration with IMO and MTCC Africa involves training and efforts to address the challenges associated with biofouling, aiming to protect the marine environment and enhance national food security. It also aims to reduce the costs of operating vessels for ship owners, as marine biofouling can add to the operational expenses of ships.
“Biofouling works against ship owners because it increases the ship drag leading to more funds spent on fueling the vessels. However, aquatic species have the good, the bad and the ugly. There is a need to maintain a balance in the aquatic environment and the only way to attain this is for respective maritime nations to keep their aquatics,” Umoren said.
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In her remarks, the NIMASA Deputy Director, Marine Environment Management (MEM), NIMASA, Dr. Oma Ofodile said greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pose a great concern to the IMO.
“Once a vessel is biofuoled, there will be more emissions. Through this training, we are ensuring that Nigeria isn’t left behind in heeding to IMO call for net zero carbon by 2050,” she said.
