The Global Industry Alliance (GIA)
The Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety
The Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety brings together leaders from organizations from the maritime and other ocean-based industries to support the objectives of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in relation to improved biofouling management.
The GIA contributes to two key environmental priorities of IMO:
- the protection of marine biodiversity by reducing the risk of invasive aquatic species transfer; and
- the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from shipping through improved ship energy efficiency.
The GIA provides a platform for technical collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of practical solutions for sustainable biofouling management.
Participation in the GIA is open to industry sectors and stakeholders with an interest in biofouling management and best practices, including ship owners and operators, shipbuilders and repair yards, ports and marinas, technology developers, offshore oil and gas producers, marine renewable energy producers, the coatings and marine paints industry, in-water cleaning service providers and classification societies.
Global environmental solutions
Private sector initiatives, such as the GIA, demonstrate that environmental challenges can be addressed through collective action and innovation. This partnership in particular highlights the role of industry in developing and applying practical solutions that support environmental protection.
By using resources effectively and working through coordinated and collaborative approaches, stakeholders can identify and implement measures that enable maritime activities to operate in a more sustainable way. Such efforts support the shared objective of ensuring that shipping and other ocean-based industries can continue to develop while minimizing their environmental impacts.
The GIA for Marine Biosafety builds on experience gained from similar initiatives established under previous IMO projects, which have demonstrated the value of public–private partnerships in addressing emerging global marine environmental challenges. These initiatives highlight the important role of the private sector in contributing technical expertise, innovation, and operational experience.
Funding and governance
The Global Industry Alliance (GIA) Trust Fund is administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and financed through annual membership contributions from members. These resources support the implementation of selected technical and collaborative activities under the GIA framework.
GIA members form a Task Force responsible for providing strategic direction and agreeing on priority activities and small-scale project outputs. The TEST Biofouling project team at IMO acts as the Secretariat to the GIA Task Force, supporting coordination, administration, and communication among members.
The current Chair of the GIA for Marine Biosafety is Mr. Simon Doran (AkzoNobel) and Vice Chair, Mr. Viktor Avlonitis (Hempel).
Areas of Action
Operational practices
Contributing to the development of improved operational practices
Dialogue
Facilitating dialogue at the global level to identify and address barriers, and issues related to biofouling management.
Technology
Showcasing innovative, leading technologies and methods through pilot and demonstration projects.
Training
Capacity building through training on best practices and technologies.