The maritime sector is stepping up its game on environmental protection, and the moves this year show a shift from checking boxes to making a real difference. Let’s break down the key developments and what they mean for the industry.
### Closing the Water Loop: Ports and Ships Team Up
Innovation Approach Oz chief executive Kayla Peperkamp has proposed a pilot program to supply surplus Class A recycled water to vessels at Victorian ports in Australia. This initiative bridges the gap between land-based water management and shipboard consumption, addressing the fact that water and waste challenges don’t stop at the shoreline. Peperkamp’s plan highlights the need to extend sustainable practices from sewerage and stormwater reform into shipping and port operations. By integrating recycled water into port services, the proposal aims to create a more sustainable loop, reducing the environmental footprint of both ports and vessels.
### Tackling Marine Plastic Litter
Marine plastic litter has become a major focus, with efforts gaining traction at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Member states are pushing for enhanced requirements to curb plastics entering the marine environment from ships. Policy advisor Peter Van den dries emphasized the importance of aligning onboard segregation and record-keeping with reception capacity and procedures ashore. This holistic approach ensures that marine litter outcomes depend on both ship and port systems working in harmony with evolving IMO expectations. By improving port reception facilities and addressing lost or discarded fishing tackle, the industry is taking concrete steps to reduce marine pollution.
### Biofouling and Biocide-Free Coatings
The discussion on biofouling management and biocide-free coatings has gained momentum, driven by regulatory pressures and practical adoption. During a Riviera webinar, I-Tech AB technical director Dr. Markus Hoffmann noted that 95% of anti-fouling coatings approved by class remain biocidal. He cautioned that biocide-free coatings are not a panacea and stressed that class approval does not equate to market share. GIT Coatings head of market strategy and vessel performance Philippos Sfiris advocated for a proactive approach, pairing bio-free coatings with planned maintenance and early intervention. Sfiris emphasized, “You don’t wait for heavy fouling to accumulate or for performance to drop. You try to address slime directly, early on in the process, and then manage it as a routine.” This approach links marine environmental protection with fuel and emissions performance, showing how poorly performing coatings can shift impact from water to air rather than removing it.
### Protecting Marine Biodiversity and Reducing Underwater Noise
The World Shipping Council (WSC) updated its voyage-planning aid, the Whale Chart, adding new entries on the US West Coast and in southern British Columbia. The chart serves as a global voyage-planning aid, mapping where slower ship speeds and route adjustments can protect whales from ship strikes and reduce underwater noise. By bringing together mandatory and voluntary measures worldwide, including speed restrictions, routeing schemes, and seasonal protection zones, the WSC is promoting a more integrated approach to marine environmental protection. This tool underscores the importance of aligning shipboard practice with route planning to safeguard marine ecosystems.
### The Future of Compliance
The 2025 activity on oily waste, wastewater, plastics, coatings, and whales points towards a more integrated view of marine environmental protection. The sector is grappling with legacy approval regimes and ageing test protocols while striving to match them with evidence-based enforcement and verifiable performance. The direction of travel is clear: compliance will increasingly be measured by what actually enters the sea and how voyages interact with marine ecosystems, rather than solely by reference to certificates on board.
As the maritime industry continues to evolve, these developments highlight the need for a more holistic and proactive approach to environmental stewardship. By integrating sustainable practices across various aspects of shipping and port operations, the sector can make significant strides in reducing its environmental impact and ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems.