Biological risk assessment approach for establishing in-water cleaning criteria of ship’s hull fouling

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recognized the risk of hull fouling and announced ‘2011 Guidelines for the control and management of ship’s biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species’ and is planning international regulations to enforce them in the future. In this study, to effectively respond to future international regulation, we have developed the biological risk assessment techniques for inwater cleaning by referring to the studyresults of Australia and New Zealand, which are the leading countries in hull fouling management. First of all, 40 codes of in-water cleaning scenarios considering Korea’s port environment were made and then Risk Priority Number (RPN) scores were calculated based on the four subject matters that affect intrusion of alien species during in-water cleaning. Ranking of the scenarios by RPNaverage scores was estimated using expert judgment and its results showed that the groups of four highest-risk scenarios all involve cleaning of macrofouling on the international vessels with no waste capture system. We also performed in-water cleaning for R/V EARDO (domestic vessels and spot fouling) vessel at Busan’s GamcheonPort in Korea, and found as a medium risk due to the RPN value was <1,000. Therefore, considering the results of biological risk assessment, it was evaluated as possible for in-water cleaning in the port only if in-water cleaning was carrie