IMO Finalizes Draft Convention to Eliminate the Use
of Toxic Anti-Fouling Paints
Marine Environment Protection Committee (MPEC) of the IMO (International
Maritime Organization) finalized a draft proposed Convention on
the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems at the end of their
46th meeting in April 2001. The MEPC approved in principle the
draft Convention at its 45th meeting last October, but in the interim
discussed a number of additional issues.
The latest draft is scheduled to be adopted at an IMO Conference
in October 2001. The essence of the Convention is that ships should
no longer be allowed to apply organotin compounds after January
1, 2003, leading to a complete ban by January 1, 2008.
Under the terms of the proposed new Convention:
- Ships above a certain size would be required to have their
anti-fouling systems surveyed and to carry an international anti-fouling
certificate.
- Anti-fouling systems to be prohibited or controlled would be
listed in Annex I of the Convention. Initially, the annex would
include reference to organotin compounds, however, in the future
it could prohibit or restrict other substances after an IMO-approved
group determines their adverse effects.
The IMO Conference in October will decide if ships should be allowed
to over-paint existing TBT coatings with a sealer or be required
to sandblast back to bare steel in order to comply with the Convention's
requirements.
Source: IMO Press
Release, April 30, 2001.
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