Anti-fouling Systems—Survey and

Certification
Huang Tianbing
Marine Biosafety Section
Bangkok, June 2009

Views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and should not
be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of IMO or its Secretariat.
Secretariat

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 AFS—Survey and Certification

ARTICLE 10
Survey and Certification

A Party shall ensure that its

ships are surveyed and
certified in accordance with
regulations in Annex 4

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Annex 4

Surveys and certification

requirements for anti-fouling
systems

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Guidelines for survey and certification of anti-fouling

systems on ships, adopted by resolution MEPC.102(48);

Guidelines for brief sampling of anti-fouling systems on

ships, adopted by resolution MEPC.104(49).

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Reference to:

- Survey Guidelines under

the Harmonized System of
Survey and Certification
(HSSC), 2007
(resolution A.997(25))
(resolution

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surveys of ships shall be carried out by

- an Administration nominating surveyors; or

- recognizing organizations

In every case, the Administration assumes full

responsibility

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Ships subject to survey and certification

- 400 gross tonnage and above

- engaged in international voyages

- excluding fixed or floating platforms, FSUs, and

FPSOs

(annex 4, regulation 1)

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 AFS—Survey and Certification
The Administration shall establish appropriate
measures for ships that are not subject to
regulation 1.1 of annex 4 of the Convention, in
order to ensure that this Convention is complied
with (annex 4, regulation 1).

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 AFS—Survey and Certification
Types of survey

Initial survey (issuance of International Anti-Fouling System

Certificate)
- newbuilding
- existing ship, before the International Anti-fouling
System Certificate is issued for the first time.

Subsequent survey (endorsement on the Certificate)

- anti-fouling system is changed or replaced

may be needed upon transfer a ship to the flag of

another State

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Repairs generally do not require a survey.

Repairs affecting approximately 25% or more of the

anti- fouling system, should be considered as a change
or replacement of the anti- fouling system.

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 AFS—Survey and Certification

Survey procedure for Newbuilding:

The surveyor make sure that:

- a request for survey, together with

ship’s data (Name
( of ship; Distinctive
number or letters; Port of registry;
Gross tonnage and IMO number), is
received

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 AFS—Survey and Certification

- a declaration from the manufacturer is

received, confirming that the system is in
compliance with the Convention and
such a declaration should provide the
information on: - Type of anti-fouling
system
- Name of anti-fouling system manufacturer
- Name and colour of anti-fouling system
- Active ingredient(s) and their CAS number(s)

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Survey procedure for Newbuilding:

The surveyor should verify:

- verify that anti-fouling system specified by

the documentation complies with the
Convention;

- verify that anti-fouling system being applied

is the same as described in the survey
request

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Survey procedure for Newbuilding

Means of verification
- checking that the product identification on
anti- fouling system containers
- Sampling of the anti-fouling system (in most case,
wet paint from the paint container)
- Testing of the anti- fouling system
- other checking on site

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Survey procedure for Newbuilding

Surveys may best be carried out when ship is

drydocked

Survey is to verify the compliance with the

Convention only, does not cover other aspects
not regulated by the Convention, such as AFS
durability, corrosion prevention properties

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Survey for existing ships

.1 AFS declared to be in compliance with the

Convention

- sampling, testing or reliable documentation

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Survey for existing ships (continue)

.2 existing AFS has been removed

verify removal, then follow the procedure for new
buildings

.3 if sealer coat is to be applied

verify that the seal coat matches with specified in
the request, then follow the same procedure for
new buildings

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Type Approval of anti-fouling systems

- Voluntary, not required by the Convention

- Common in classification society

“Approval of conformity with specified

requirement on the basis of systematic
examination of one or more specimens of a
product representative of the production.”

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Type Approval Procedure

- application by manufacturer
- assessment of type approval documentation,
including quality control and assurance
- initial survey of product and production facilities,
including witnessing of type tests
- assessment of survey report and type test results
- certificates retention or renew survey

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Type Approval Procedure

- Successful fulfilment of type approval process leads to

issuance of Type Approval Certificate, certifying that
anti-fouling system manufacturer is capable of
consistently producing a product in compliance with
the Convention. Each product is tested extensively to
verify that it will perform reliably

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Type Approval of anti-fouling systems

list of type approved anti-fouling systems,

facilitating the ship survey process

sampling is usually not required during ship

survey when anti-fouling system is type approved

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Organotin which act as chemical catalysts

small quantities of organotin compounds acting as a

chemical catalyst are allowed, provided that they are
present at a level which does not provide a biocidal
effect to the coating. On a practical level, when used as
a catalyst, an organotin compound should not be
present above 2,500 mg total tin per kg of dry paint.

(Guidelines for survey and certification of AFS on

ships, appendix)

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Example of Organotin which act as chemical catalyst

Silicone elastomer fouling control coatings are

classified as biocide-free, they function purely by
providing a physical effect, i.e. a ‘non-stick’ slippery
surface. Silicone coating often contain organotin
catalysts which are added to speed up the initial
hardening (curing) of the coating film and control the
type of film formed, directly after application to the
vessel.

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Organotin which act as chemical catalysts

- the AFS Convention prohibits the application

of any organotin compound acting as a biocide,
Organotins which act as chemical catalysts,
such as dibutyl tin, are excluded from the
prohibition as long as they are not used as a
biocide

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Organotin which act as chemical catalysts

- organotin compounds which act as biocides and

those which act as a catalysts can be distinguished
from each other by their chemical identity and quantity
of the organotin compound present in the dried paint
film

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Organotin which act as chemical catalysts

- organotin compounds which act as biocides are

triorganotin compounds (e.g. TBT) which are typically
present at 50,000 mg/kg in the dry paint film (measured
as Tin)

- organotin compounds which act as catalysts are

mono- and di- substituted organotin compounds. They
are present at levels below 2,500 mg/kg in the dried
paint film (measured as Tin)

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International Anti-Fouling System Certificate

Model form is contained Appendix 1 to annex 4 of

the Convention

Supplemented by a Record of anti-fouling

systems

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Declaration on anti-fouling systems

Apply to ships

- 24 metres or more in length

- less than 400 gross tonnage

- engage in international voyages

- exclude fixed or floating platform, FSUs and FPSOS

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Declaration on anti-fouling systems

- signed by owner or owner’s authorized agent

- accompanied by appropriate documentation e.g.

paint receipt)

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