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Harmful Antifouling Systems News

11 May 2016

IMO Workshop Addresses Antifouling Systems

Photo: IMO

Flag state and port state roles in ratifying, implementing and enforcing the convention prohibiting the use of harmful antifouling systems on ships (AFS Convention) are on the agenda at a regional workshop held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 10-11. The workshop sought to increase awareness of government officials and other stakeholders on the benefits and implications of ratifying, implementing and enforcing the Convention. The environmentally sound practices for the disposal of waste generated in applying and removing antifouling systems were also presented and discussed.

17 Sep 2012

Lonza Applauds U.S. Joining International Treaty

Lonza Applauds U.S. Lonza Microbial Control, which has long been an active supporter of an international treaty to assure the use of environmentally sound marine coatings products, applauds the United States’ formal approval of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships. With the treaty having secured Congressional and White House approval, the U.S. will officially become a party to the treaty in November 2012. The treaty is designed to eliminate harmful antifouling systems which pose a substantial risk of toxicity to ecologically and economically important marine organisms and specifically bans all use of organotin compounds which act as biocides in antifouling systems.

04 Dec 2002

The New IMO Treaty to Ban TBT

The Diplomatic Conference held (October 1-5, 2001) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London adopted the Draft Convention prepared by The Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of IMO for the "Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems for Ships." The Convention has been developed to immediately ban the use of Tributyltin (TBT) globally in antifouling paints to "protect the marine environment". The ban on TBT has come about because TBT has detrimental effects on non-target marine organisms. In November 1999, IMO agreed that a Treaty be developed by the MEPC to ensure a ban on the application of TBT based antifouling paints by January 1, 2003, and a total ban on the use of TBT by January 1, 2008.

19 May 2003

EU Bans on TBT Anti-Fouling Systems on EU Ships

On May 9, the final version of EC Regulation 782/2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships was published in the European Official Journal. It entered into force the following day. This Regulation bans the fresh application of TBT antifouling paints on EU-flagged vessels from July 1, 2003 and forbids the existence of TBT on all ships entering a port or offshore terminal of an EU Member State from January 1, 2008. At the international level, the IMO Convention of October 5, 2001 on the control of harmful antifouling systems on ships (AFS Convention) will regulate tin based coatings. It initially proposed to ban the application of TBT anti-fouling paints from January 1, 2003 and the existence of it from January 1, 2008.