The Global TestNet is open to any organization involved in land-based and/or shipboard testing of BWMS under the BWM Convention and relevant guidelines or other test protocols. It is also open to organisations involved in the testing of technologies that combat bio-invasions through biofouling.
Global TestNet consists of member organizations, observers and advisors. Further, the Steering Committee consists of a chairman, secretariat and two members who will lead and coordinate the activities of the network. The Secretariat, which is currently based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, performs secretarial and administrative services in support of the network.
Global TestNet started life through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the Global TestNet that was signed on 21 October 2013 by representatives of ballast water treatment system testing organizations. Since that time Global TestNet has formed itself into a not-for-profit members association (Global TestNet Ltd) with paid memberships. Global TestNet has NGO status with the IMO.
The current membership consists of the following organisations:
- Ankron Water Services
- Ballast Water Detecting Laboratory of Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU-BWDL)
- Biofouling Solutions Pty Ltd
- Cal Maritime Golden Bear Facility
- Control Union Vessel Performance Centre B.V.
- DHI
- Endures
- Karlab Environmental Laboratory
- Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)
- Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI)
- Marine Biological Research Institute of Japan, Co., Ltd
- Norsk Institutt for Vannforskning (NIVA), Norway
- Oema (The Ballast Water Centre)
- PML Applications Ltd
- SGS