IAFS Convention / Certification

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What is the main chemical ingredient used in an AFS?

-TBT – Tributyltinoxide

How does TBT protect a ship’s hull?

nIAFS Convention / Certification

Why is Anti-Fouling System (AFS) harmful?

vRisk of toxicity

vChronic impacts to ecologically and economically important marine organisms

vAffecting human health by fouled seafood

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How will the IAFS Convention be applicable?

All ships shall carry an International

Anti-Fouling System (IAFS) Certificate

to document compliance with the Convention

It will apply to ships of 400 gross tonnage

and above engaged in international voyages,

excluding fixed or floating platforms, floating

storage units (FSU), and floating production,

storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels

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What is the status of the Convention?

-Not yet in force?

What is the schedule?

The schedule for eliminating the use of TBT paints is:

• After 1 January 2003, ships shall not apply or re-apply anti fouling systems containing organotin compounds acting as biocides, e.g. TBT.

• After 1 January 2008, TBT shall not be present on the hull of a ship or an offshore units. The “no presence” requirement can be fulfilled either by removing the old TBT-paint or by applying a sealer coating prior to applying the TBT-free anti-fouling system.

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As it may take some time before the flag states are prepared to issue IAFS-Certificates, in order to document compliance with the Convention prior to its entry into force, Classification Societies are prepared to issue an equivalent document in the form of a Statement of Compliance (SOC). This implies that it is important that the owner requests the Classification Society for the survey and issuance of a SOC before the dry‑docking starts

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What surveys are required?

vAn initial survey is to be carried out for a new building or for an

     existing ship, before the IAFS Certificate or SOC is issued for the first time

v

vA survey is to be carried out whenever an AFS is changed or replaced

v

vRepairs generally do not require a survey. However, repairs affecting

     approximately twenty five (25) percent or more of the AFS should be

     considered as a change or replacement of the AFS

nIAFS Convention / Certification

Request for survey?

vPrior to any survey, a request for survey should be submitted by the ship-owner to the classification society. The request should contain the Ship’s data

v

nIAFS Convention / Certification

Request for survey? (Contd.)

vA request for survey should be supplemented by a declaration and

     supporting information from the AFS manufacturer, confirming that

     the AFS applied or intended to be applied to the ship is in compliance

     with the requirements of the Convention. Such declaration shall

     provide the following information:

(1) Type of AFS and sealer coat, if applicable

(2) Name of AFS manufacturer

(3) Name and colour of AFS and sealer coat, if applicable

(4) Active ingredient(s) and their Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number(s) (CAS number(s))

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What will the surveyor require?

Surveys for new buildings:

As part of the survey, it should be verified that the

AFS specified by the documentation submitted with

the request for survey complies with the

Convention. Alternatively an attestation from

the company/facility/location indicating that

the AFS specified by the ship owner has been

 applied to the ship will be required

nIAFS Convention / Certification

Surveys for new buildings:

The verification required should include one or more

of the following tasks, as deemed necessary

to verify compliance:

v-     Checking that the product identification on AFS   

v      containers used during the application process is

v      identical to the system specified in the request for survey

v

v-     Collections of samples of the AFS, preferably wet

nIAFS Convention / Certification

Surveys for new buildings:

The following alternative scenarios are foreseen for the future:

v-     Reducing and finally phasing-out the extent of sampling and control as the TBT disappears from the market

v

v-      Harmonise the service after the market, if relevant. However, a documentation review in form of a pure paper exercise is not considered good enough for Classification Societies, at least not initially

nIAFS Convention / Certification

Surveys for existing ships

1)If the existing AFS is documented to be TBT free  - endorsement of records

2)If the existing AFS is declared to be TBT free (i.e. permitted AFS), without being documented, a verification is to be carried out to confirm that the AFS is TBT free

3)If the existing AFS has been removed, the removal should be verified

4)If a sealer coat has been applied, a verification is to be carried out to confirm that the name, type and colour of the sealer coat applied to the ship match those specified in the request for survey, and that the existing AFS has been covered with that sealer coat (different colour

5)If the existing AFS contain TBT (i.e. contain prohibited/regulated compounds) it should be removed accordingly or covered by a sealer coat not later than 1 January 2008

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Issuing or endorsing Statement of Compliance (SOC)

or

International Anti-Fouling System (IAFS) Certificate

The SOC or IAFS Certificate along with the

Record of AFS should be:

(1) Issued upon satisfactory completion of initial survey;

(2) Issuedupon acceptance of another Party’s SoC or IAFS Certificate,  

      if sufficiently endorsed;

(3) Endorsed  upon satisfactory completion of a survey for change or

      replacement of an AFS.