Members will be aware of the work conducted by ICS and BIMCO on the development of an underwater hull cleaning standard and supporting approval standard.  Significant progress has been made, and Draft Ver 0.1 of the standards are now ready for implementation by hull cleaners and class societies. BIMCO will lead the implementation project, and the associated project plan is provided at Annex A.

Fundamental to the success of the implementation project and the standards themselves is the availability of ships to be cleaned as part of the project. Shipowners and Shipmanagers are invited to contribute ships for underwater cleaning. The more ships that use the new underwater cleaning standards the the more likely it will become established practice. 

Furthermore, members are advised that BIMCO will host a webinar on the standards on February 2, at from 10.00-11.00 CET. The webinar will provide background on the standards and the implementation project,and afford the opportunity to raise any questions with respect to the development of the material, progress made to date, and plans for future work through IMO on the issue of Underwater Hull Cleaning. Members who wish to attend the webinar are requested to advise John Stawpert, ICS Manager (Environment and Trade) (john.stawpert@ics-shipping.org)  no later than 25 January.