The Intemational Convention on the Conta of Hatmfl Ant Fouling Systems on Ships was adopted on & ‘Getaber 2001 by IMO. The Convention eners into force 12 months afer 25 states representing 25% the works ‘merchant shipping tonnage have ratified. With the raitaton by Panama on 17 September 2007, tne Convention as been raed by 25 States, wih 2 combined 28.11% of wold merchant sipping tonnage: ‘nen the Convention iin force, snips wil no longer be permite to appty or re-apply organtn compounds which acta bioctes inthe antfouling systems; ships eather shal not bear such compounds on tei hulls or extemal pars or surtace or, for ship already catying sucn compounds on thelr hls, @coatng that forms a barr to sueh compounds wi have to be applied to prevent them leaching from the underying nen-compkant ant-fouing systems. The Convention aso estanlsnes a mechanism to evaluate and assess other an-founng systems and prevent ture use of other harmiul substances in these systems 1 potential Te Convention wil apy to ships ying the flag af a Party tothe Convention, 2s well as ships not entitle ty ther ag but which operate under ter autnomy ana to al ships tna ener a pont, shipyard or omsnore terminal ofa Paty. wil app taal ships ncuaing "xed or noatingplattorms, floating sorage units and fleaing production storage and ofoaing uns. Background Anl-fouing paints are used to coat the bottoms of ships to preven sealife such a8 algae and molluscs alaching themselves to the hull Mereby ‘Swing down te ship ana increasing Tvl consumption. The Convention dennes “ai out systems” as "a coating, pat, sutace treatment, surface, of device tals used on @ ship te contol or prevent attachment of unvantes organisms" Inne cary days of sing ships, ime and late arsenic were used To coat ships’ nulls, unl te modem chemicals industy developed eMfectve ant- fouling pants using metalic compounds. These compounds slowly lea into the sea water, king bamacies and other mare Me that have allached tote ship. However, studs stowed that hese compounds persist inthe water, ling seal, harming the environment and possibly entering the food chain. One ofthe mast popular antJoulng pains, developed in the 1960s, contained the organotn compound tbutyin (TET), which has been proven 1 cause deformations in oysiers and sex changes a whelks Today, there ae a vavely of eect ant-fouling ystems avatable which donot contain TAT, such as eqganotn-ree at-oulng paints and biocide-free non-stick coatings which have an extremly sippery surface - preventing fouling occuring and making # easier to clean when it does Based on IMO. Sreing 30/2007 of 18 September 2007 For fuer infomation about ne Convention see an gatier Steamship Mutual website ace ist pubisied in Sea Venture in 200%: Ant-Fouting systems