Peru Accepts IMO's Anti-Fouling Treaty

South American country Peru has acceded to an important  International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaty helping to protect the marine environment – the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS) Convention.

The UN body said that the treaty prohibits the use of harmful organotins in anti-fouling paints and establishes a mechanism to prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in anti-fouling systems.

Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Peru to IMO, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London, to deposit the instrument of accession (2 July).

The treaty now has 87 contracting States, representing just over 96% of world merchant shipping tonnage.

Anti-fouling paints are used to coat the bottoms of ships to prevent sealife such as algae and molluscs attaching themselves to the hull – thereby slowing down the ship and increasing fuel consumption.