It is no secret that the maritime industry is rapidly changing when it comes to the phrase - Biofouling Management. It used to mean that vessel owners/ managers could effectively manage their annual fuel expenditures with regular, proactive hull and propeller maintenance. Now, it is one of the most highly recommended shipping practices by the IMO and various other marine organizations due to the harmful impact that invasive aquatic species has on international marine environments around the world.

The IMO is saying that a biofouling management plan is “recommended” but for any vessel calling US ports a biofouling management plan is required since 2013 in VGP. Vessels with Bahamas flag are also required to have biofouling management plans. Today the focus on biofouling from the maritime governing bodies and countries around the globe is increasing rapidly with mandated biofouling protocols in place for vessels entering New Zealand (NZ MPI), California, and Australia who have turned this “recommendation”— into law, and just like NZ MPI, more countries/ states are in the process of implementing similar regulations sooner than later.

Furthermore, the IMO has set a goal to reduce vessels that are above 5,000 GT and trading internationally to reduce their carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% up to 2030, compared to 2008. In June 2021, during the MEPC 76, the IMO had accepted the changes in Annex VI, which is related to the prevention of air pollution from vessels, in where an Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) for existing vessels has been adopted. These changes will start as of 1 January 2023. From then on, vessels will get an energy efficiency rating from A – E, where A is best.

• Subsea Global Solutions will provide a service schedule based on economic and environmental factors, and help you succeed in the current era of environmental performance management by increasing the energy efficiency rating of vessels. You will have various options to choose from based on a schedule that best fits your budget and vessel needs.

• Subsea Global Solutions will provide a pricing schedule so you can pre-plan for the entire year’s budget so there is no last-minute cost.

• Subsea Global Solutions will execute underwater cleaning/grooming services according to best biofouling management practices or if required, to the NZ MPI Craft Risk Management Standard to ensure each vessel is considered compliant to the NZ MPI “Long Stay” or ”Short Stay” categories.

• Subsea Global Solutions will communicate directly with NZ MPI with your team in copy when it comes to report delivery and discussion around the hull’s biofouling conditions. We will include the vessel Biofouling Management Plan in our NZ MPI final report.

• Subsea Global Solutions will provide portal access to our cloud based dive report database that can be accessed anywhere enabling the vessel Master to have all the biofouling reports available when needed.

• Subsea Global Solutions will ensure that your life is made easy when it comes to the portion of your vessel that is under the sea.

• Vessel itinerary
• Frequently visited ports, for vessels with irregular port calls.
• Access to previous dive reports for services not performed by Subsea Global Solutions.
• Trust in Subsea Global Solutions to manage your fleets underwater services around the world.
• An effort to help Subsea Global Solutions ensure the transfer of harmful invasive species to our international marine environments is as minimal as possible.

With this information, we can provide you with a budgetary plan and an underwater cleaning/inspection schedule for the entire year to ensure your fleet or NZ bound vessels remain in compliance year-round.

Through our in-house developed “underwater” fleet management program, we have been successfully supporting customers fleet for over 15 years not only helping them to create operational efficiencies, but also to decrease their overall underwater spend and improve the performance of their fleet or individual vessels. Today we have circa 2,500 commercial ships and some 200 ships in cruise shipping sectors under our fleet management program.

With our 13 wholly owned offices spread out to the key shipping hubs of the world, and a large network of partners, we possess the global reach, bench-depth, technology and the expertise to maintain your Propeller, Hull and keep your fleets efficient and environmentally compliant.

In today’s highly regulated yet cost-driven environment, Subsea Global Solutions fully recognizes the need for simplified, cost-effective, and reliable fleet management & maintenance solutions for its clients in the cruise and commercial shipping. We conduct detailed fleet inspections with each service, helping the ship owners to catch developing issues before they get to failure or critical status saving significant dollars for unscheduled repairs or potential costly dry dockings. All of these to bring you the most complete fleet management solution.

• Fixed pricing for all underwater maintenance services e.g. hull cleaning, propeller polishing, and in-water surveys.
• Regularly scheduled business review meetings to review findings, budgets and receive feedback on technical and operational performance, environmental     compliance, job reporting, to mutually share best practice, agree on improvements required, and ensure complete alignment with our clients to exceed their expectations.
• Pre-planned services to ensure compliance with safety, international and local environmental regulations.
• Yearly scheduling based on technical evaluation of efficiency and bio-fouling reports.
• Dedicated Key Account Manager and point of contact for global services.
• Dedicated client email to receive all service inquiries and requests.
• A comprehensive online, Cloud Based Reporting Solution capturing all essential data about your fleet vessel by vessel and enabling you to access reports real-time.