ISO 6319 sets global standard for safe hull cleaning at ports

A new ISO standard, ISO 6319, has been published to guide ports, shipowners

and operators on conducting hull cleaning in an environmentally responsible

way.

The standard is designed to help shipping operators and regulators manage

biofouling without releasing organisms or chemicals into the water, reducing the

spread of invasive aquatic species while improving vessel efficiency and

lowering fuel consumption and emissions.

“Biofouling on ships’ hulls can spread invasive species and damage

ecosystems. It also increases drag, reducing vessel efficiency and raising fuel

consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Irene Øvstebø Tvedten, Senior

Adviser at Bellona and Project Manager for the Clean Hull Initiative (CHI),

which led development of ISO 6319.

The standard offers a clear structure for documenting hull-cleaning

activities, helping operators demonstrate compliance and enabling authorities to

assess whether the technology used meets environmental safeguards.

Tvedten added: “On Wednesday, the standard was finally published and is now

available for global stakeholders.”

Port of Antwerp-Bruges contributed to the standard. Luc Van Espen, Port

Environment Expert, said: “An internationally accepted standard creates a level

playing field and limits the transfer of invasive species between ports.”

Global approval procedures for hull cleaning currently vary, creating

operational uncertainty for shipowners.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a global RoRo operator and ISO 6319 contributor,

highlighted the benefits of the standard for predictability.

Senior Manager, Kim-Helge Brynjulfsen, said: “When applications follow the

same structure and technical specifications, authorities can process them more

efficiently. For shipping companies, this means fewer disruptions and greater

operational certainty.”

Other contributors include Jotun, a marine coatings and hull-cleaning

technology provider. Petter Korslund, Regulatory Affairs Manager, noted: “ISO

6319 helps authorities assess whether cleaning systems sufficiently protect the

environment. There are significant quality differences between systems, and the

standard provides clarity for decision-making.”

Mark Riggio, Technical Director at BEMA, added: “ISO 6319 guides

authorities on mitigating risks while promoting environmentally responsible hull

cleaning.”

Tvedten emphasised the collaborative effort behind the standard:

“Competitors put commercial interests aside to agree on terms for hull cleaning.

It’s a significant achievement for proactive environmental management.”

The standard was initiated by the Clean Hull Initiative four years ago

under Bellona’s leadership, with the aim of encouraging sufficiently frequent

cleaning to maintain minimal biofouling.

In January 2025, Southern Ports became the fifth port authority globally to

achieve certification (ISO 55001:2014) for its integrated asset management

system.