Q. Anti Fouling Convention

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, commonly called the
Anti-Fouling Convention (AFS Convention), is an IMO treaty aimed at protecting the marine environment from the harmful effects of anti-fouling paints and coatings used on ships’ hulls.

• Prohibit the use of harmful anti-fouling paints.
• Ensure environmentally safe alternatives are used.
• Prevent contamination of marine ecosystems and protect marine life.

• It applies to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above engaged in international voyages, excluding fixed or floating platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs constructed before 1 January 2003 and not dry-docked since then.
• Ships between 24 meters in length and 400 GT must carry a Declaration on Anti-fouling Systems confirming compliance.

Anti-fouling systems are coatings or paints applied to a ship’s hull to prevent the growth of:

• Barnacles
• Algae
• Mollusks
• Marine organisms

These organisms increase hull resistance, leading to:

• Higher fuel consumption
• Reduced speed
• More emissions

• Tributyltin (TBT): Banned from 1 Jan 2008. Highly toxic to marine life (e.g., causes imposex in snails).
• Cybutryne (Irgarol 1051): Banned from 1 Jan 2023. Ships must remove or seal it by 60 months after entry into force (by 1 Jan 2028).

Modern anti-fouling systems include:

• Biocide-free coatings
• Silicone-based foul-release coatings
• Copper oxide (Cu2O)-based (still allowed, though monitored)
• Electrolytic and ultrasonic systems

• International Anti-Fouling System Certificate (IAFSC)
• Record of Anti-Fouling System
  • Describes type of system used
  • Must include evidence of compliance