This edition includes amendments to Guidelines for the detention of ships (appendix 2) and Guidelines for port State control under MARPOL Annex VI (appendix 18), and new Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships (appendix 19).

The 2023 Diving Code was adopted by resolution MSC.548(107) and applies to ships of not less than 500 gross tonnage that have a diving system installed on or after 1 January 2024.

These Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species are intended to provide a globally consistent approach to the management of biofouling.