Pictorial Standard for Underwater Evaluation of Fouling Degree on Ship Hulls

This standard provides a pictorial system to help identify and describe the type, level, and extent of biofouling on a ship, in terms of its gross composition and level of coverage, as viewed, photographed, or otherwise recorded underwater.

The images below are designed only as a series of example images to help the users of this standard take photographs and make a high-level evaluation of the fouling that can be seen in the photographs. Evaluation of any fouling is clearly limited to that visible in the photos.

Pictorial-based Type, Level, and Extent of Biofouling Assessment

The standard provides nine sets of pictorial-based expressions of biofouling type, level, and extent, (collectively the degree of biofouling) for assisting the reporting and evaluation needs of underwater inspections that include a biofouling inspection. No interpretation or guidance is provided with respect to the potential level of hull resistance or likelihood of invasive species infestation afforded by particular degree(s) of biofouling, and no guidance is offered regarding the particular type, level, and extent of biofouling that warrants or justifies its removal by hull cleaning or other remedial treatment.

If it is important to have a full determination of the fouling level on a vessel, then the approach described in this standard should be used in conjunction with other techniques/approaches. For example, it is possible that juvenile barnacles could be present on a ship hull but not visible in a photograph due to a significant layer of microfouling obscuring them.

Ship operators, charterers, Port State authorities, and other stakeholders with biosecurity assessment needs will stand to benefit from the accrual of more reliable and consistent hull inspection records, monitoring data, and improved hull management, such as timely application of cleaning or other remedial strategies. Widespread use of a standard that improves the quality of biofouling records will enable all stakeholders to work more effectively towards achieving the considerable economic and environmental benefits from improved hull management.