
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
2| PML APPLICATIONS LTD
Stowaways and hitchhikers
The process of exploiting the ocean
is not without its challenges; climate
change, water quality, pollution and
invasive species are only some of the
challenges commanding our attention.
Invasive species in particular can
present a real threat to the survival
of native species and have serious
economic effects.
The discharge of ballast water – used
by ships in huge quantities for stability
and trim – has been identified as
a major source of invasive species.
Our Ballast Water Centre provides
the scientific, professional and
technical expertise required to confirm
compliance of ballast water treatment
systems and whether they meet US and
International Maritime Organization
regulations – the latter of which is still
to be ratified by the UK government.
The BWC is now working with global
shipping companies, including Carnival
UK, to test ballast water management
systems and ensure they meet these
requirements to prevent non-native
species being introduced from and into
ports around the world.
Growth of organisms on subsea
surfaces is a major concern for all
industries that place structures in the
sea including shipping, renewable
energy, power stations and offshore
oil and gas rigs. Biofouling organisms
on ship hulls increase drag and slow
ships down, leading to higher fuel
consumption and increased greenhouse
gas emissions, all the while providing
a pathway for invasive species to move
around the world’s seas.
The growth of barnacles and other
fouling organisms impedes the
efficiency of moving parts such as
subsea turbines, and block pipes and
inlets. Finding effective environmentally
safe, economically viable and easily
applied solutions is the primary activity
of our Centre for Marine Biofouling and
Corrosion, or CMBC. Working with
international companies, including
Rolls-Royce and AkzoNobel, the CMBC
assists its customers by testing and
developing novel coating technologies
together with researching the
fundamental mechanics of the fouling
process.
Such is the reputation gained by our
teams that they are much sought-after
as advisers on a range of national
and international bodies including the
Global TestNet, which brings together
organisations across the world involved
in shipboard testing for certification of
ballast water management systems and
ships’ biofouling management under
the IMO’s Ballast Water Management
Convention and biofouling guidelines.
We are also a strategic partner in the
GloFouling Partnership, where we both
supply expert opinions and influence
forward strategy and policy. Our team
also works with statutory bodies,
including carrying out non-native
species surveys, for example, on behalf
of Natural England.
Coating tests for marine
renewables at the
European Marine Energy
Centre
Niche area inspection on
ship’s hull
We take world-
class marine
research and
technological
development
and combine it
with innovation
to provide
outstanding
service to
industry across
a global client
base
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