Hull cleaning guidelines will help cut pollutants in German port waters.
The first German guidelines for granting permits for underwater hull cleaning at the bremenports-managed ports of Bremen (Bremen and Bremerhaven ports) have been published as a result of the ‘CLEAN’ project, with the aim of reducing pollutants into port waters.
Multiple business enterprises and institutions joined forces for the CLEAN project, which aims to promote “freedom from hull fouling thanks to proactive cleaning on abrasion-resistant, biocide-free coatings for the shipping business”.
Project led to guidelines
The ports of Bremen have been investigating the issue of compulsory permits for underwater hull cleaning and the CLEAN project elaborated on the fundamental requirements for obtaining approval for underwater hull cleaning at ports, leading to the publication of the guidelines.
Drawing up and publishing these guidelines is intended to enable the use of underwater cleaning systems at the ports of Bremen. This creates a sound legal basis for the development and use of innovative methods which satisfy the legal requirements and means that new cleaning techniques can be developed as part of proactive antifouling management.
The guidelines provide the cleaning companies and shipowners with a basis for applying for and performing underwater hull cleaning at the ports of Bremen.
For the ports of Bremen, this is the next logical step on its way to becoming a green port as it will enable underwater hull cleaning on biocide-free hard coatings at the ports in future, in addition to the environmentally friendly services that are already available there.
To date there are no binding national or international regulations for granting a permit for underwater hull cleaning in ports.
