IMO MEPC.378(80) compliant Biofouling Management Plan (BFMP) for superyachts. Professional package with BFMP template, companion guide, quick reference card, and Biofouling Record Book template. Meets the 2024 mandatory requirements with specific focus on Australia and New Zealand enforcement.
The Biofouling Management Plan (BFMP) is now mandatory for all vessels under IMO Resolution MEPC.378(80), which came into effect on 1 January 2024. This resolution upgraded the previous 2011 voluntary guidelines into binding requirements, and it applies to all ships regardless of size or flag state. Biofouling—the accumulation of aquatic organisms on a vessel’s hull and underwater surfaces—is the primary pathway for invasive marine species to spread between ocean regions. Unmanaged biofouling is also a significant source of hydrodynamic drag, increasing fuel consumption and emissions. For superyachts, which are particularly mobile and frequently cross biogeographic boundaries, a professionally structured BFMP and associated record book are now essential compliance documents.
Every superyacht is now required to carry a Biofouling Management Plan under IMO MEPC.378(80). This requirement applies regardless of the vessel’s size, flag, or trading pattern. Enforcement is most advanced in Australia and New Zealand, which operate the world’s strictest biofouling regimes and conduct hull inspections using the IMO Biofouling Level of Fouling (LOF) assessment scale. Vessels arriving in Australian or New Zealand waters with inadequate documentation, or with hull fouling above the acceptable LOF threshold, may be refused entry, required to undertake at-sea hull cleaning, or directed to dry dock. Vessels trading across the Pacific should consider this package a high-priority compliance requirement. Even in regions where enforcement is still developing, surveyors and flag states are increasingly verifying BFMP documentation.
A fully structured Word document covering all required elements of IMO MEPC.378(80): vessel description and anti-fouling system details, biofouling management objectives, proactive and reactive management measures, in-water cleaning procedures, dry-docking and slipping schedule, niche area management, and record-keeping procedures. The template includes guidance on applying the IMO LOF (Level of Fouling) assessment scale and documenting hull condition in the format required by Australian and New Zealand authorities.
A practical completion guide walking through every section of the BFMP. Explains how to document your current anti-fouling system, how to establish appropriate inspection and cleaning intervals for your operating pattern, how to record niche area treatments, and what Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) specifically looks for in a biofouling inspection.
A laminate-ready reference card summarising the LOF assessment scale (LOF 0-5), the key obligations under MEPC.378(80), and the pre-arrival reporting requirements for Australia and New Zealand. Suitable for bridge and dive team display.
An Excel-format record book tracking all biofouling management activities in the format required for flag state and port state verification: anti-fouling system details and application dates, hull inspection records, in-water cleaning records with fouling condition assessments, dry-docking records, and niche area treatment logs.
This BFMP satisfies IMO Resolution MEPC.378(80) in its full mandatory form effective January 2024. It meets the specific documentation requirements of Australian biosecurity law (Biosecurity Act 2015) and New Zealand’s Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS). It is accepted by all major flag states. The LOF assessment framework in the template and record book aligns directly with the inspection methodology used by Australian DAFF and New Zealand MPI border biosecurity officers.
This BFMP was prepared with direct reference to the mandatory requirements of IMO MEPC.378(80), Australian biosecurity enforcement practice, and the documentation standards expected by major flag states. The companion guide explains the LOF scale and the Australian inspection process in practical terms—not regulatory language. The record book format has been designed to satisfy the specific audit trail requirements of both IMO and national biosecurity authorities. As IMO biofouling requirements continue to develop and additional states implement enforcement, the package will be updated and existing customers will receive revisions at no additional cost.
30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Not satisfied? Contact us and we'll make it right.
Accepted payment methods
Last updated: January 2025
Complete your vessel's compliance documentation package
Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) for superyachts. Compliant with the BWM Convention and IMO Guidelines G4 and G8. Professional package with BWMP template, crew training guide, operational procedures, and Ballast Water Record Book template.
Crew Familiarisation Package for superyachts covering engineering, deck, and interior departments. Compliant with ISM Code Section 6 and STCW A-VI/1. Professional package with three department-specific familiarisation checklists, companion guide, and quick reference card.
Fresh Water Management Plan for superyachts covering legionella prevention, watermaker operations, and crew health. Compliant with WHO Guide to Ship Sanitation, MLC Standard A3.1, and MCA MGN 397. Professional package with plan template, companion guide, quick reference card, and daily water quality log.