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.
EPA Approves Lonza’s Copper Omadine
Lonza is pleased to announce it has received a registration from the U.S. EPA for the use of its copper Omadine Antimicrobial as an agent to deter the growth of algae and other foulants on ships. The registration covers the product’s use in marine hull paints that are applied by licensed applicators on U.S. vessels that are 25 or more meters in length. “This registration means our customers can now provide their latest antifouling paint technology in the United States,” explains Robert Martin, Global Strategic Marketing Manager for Lonza Microbial Control’s Marine Antifouling Paint business. “Many of the new self-polishing paints contain copper Omadine® Antimicrobial, the most widely used co-biocide in the world for marine antifouling paint applications.
