AFS-001 - International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001

Rev. 07/25

Supersedes: Marine Notice AFS-001, dated 08/22

Revisions:

1. Paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 amended to reference threshold values of cybutryne as per MEPC Resolution 379(80) as amend by MEPC Resolution 405(83)
2. Added reference to survey and certification requirements of MEPC Resolution 358(78). in paragraph 3.1 for ships with anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this note is to advise that the Republic of Liberia is a Party to the

International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention), as amended, and to provide information on the Liberian Flag State Administration’s actions for implementation.

The amendments to the AFS Convention under MEPC Resolution 331(76) entered into force on 1 January 2023.

APPLICABILITY:

The AFS Convention applies to all registered ships regardless of tonnage. Under the AFS Convention “ship” means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion vehicles, submersibles, floating craft, fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs) and floating production storage and off-loading units (FPSOs).

1.0 DEFINITIONS:

1.1 Administration: The Government of the State under whose authority the ship is operating. With respect to a ship entitled to fly a flag of a State, the Administration is the Government of that State. With respect to fixed or floating platforms engaged in exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed and subsoil thereof adjacent to the coast over which the coastal State exercises sovereign rights for the purposes of exploration and exploitation of their natural resources, the Administration is the Government of the coastal State concerned.

1.2 Anti-fouling System: A coating, paint, surface treatment, surface, or device that is used on a ship to control or prevent attachment of unwanted organisms.

1.3 International voyage: A voyage by a ship entitled to fly the flag of one State to or from a port, shipyard, or offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of another State.

1.4 Ship: A vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion vehicles, submersibles, floating craft, fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs) and floating production storage and off-loading units (FPSOs).

2.0 REQUIREMENTS:

2.1 As of 17 September 2008, ships shall not bear organotin compounds which act as biocides on their hulls or external parts or surfaces; or shall bear a sealer coat to such compounds leaching from the underlying non-compliant anti-fouling systems.

2.2 Upon entry into force of the amendments to the AFS Convention on 1 January 2023, ships are not permitted to apply or re-apply anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne. The material declaration for the paint should clearly indicate that cybutryne is not present above the threshold value of 200 mg/kg (sample taken from wet paint container).

2.3 Ships bearing an anti-fouling system that contains cybutryne in the external coating layer of their hulls or external parts or surfaces above the threshold value of 1000 mg/kg (sample taken directly from the hull) on 1 January 2023 shall at the next scheduled renewal of the antifouling system after 1 January 2023, but no later than 60 months following the last application to the ship of an anti-fouling system containing cybutryne, either:

1. Remove the anti-fouling system;
2. Apply a coating that forms a barrier to this substance leaching from the underlying non-compliant anti-fouling system.
   1. Control measures in item 2.1 above for Anti-fouling systems containing organotin compounds do not apply to fixed and floating platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs that have been constructed prior to 1 January 2003 and that have not yet been in dry-dock since that date.
   2. Control measures in item 2.3 above for Anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne do not apply to:
3. Fixed and floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs that have been constructed prior to 1

January 2023 and have not been in dry-dock on or after 1 January 2023;

1. Ships not engaged in international voyages; and
2. Ships of less than 400 gross tonnage engaged in international voyages, if accepted by the coastal States(s)

3.0 Survey and Certification

3.1 Ships of above 400 gross tonnage and above engaged in international voyages, excluding fixed and floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs, are required to carry on board a valid International Anti-fouling System (IAFS) Certificate along with a Record of Anti-fouling Systems verifying compliance with the convention. Survey and certification of anti-fouling systems on ships are to be carried out in accordance with MEPC Resolution 358(78).

3.2 An initial survey shall be carried out for a new building or for an existing ship, before the IAFS Certificate is issued for the first time.

3.3 Ships to which the AFS Convention applies that bear an anti-fouling system controlled under revised Annex 1 of the AFS Convention shall make a timely request for a survey for the issuance of an IAFS Certificate in the amended model form in Annex 1 to this Marine Notice, so that ships have a valid IAFS Certificate on board not later than 24 months after 1 January 2023. The provision in paragraph 2.1.7 of MEPC Resolution 357(78) regarding matching the survey for issuance of the IAFS Certificate with the dry-dock period, is not applicable for the survey referred to in this paragraph.

3.4 Ships to which the AFS Convention applies and do not bear an anti-fouling system controlled under revised Annex 1 are encouraged to obtain a new IAFS Certificate in the amended model form in Annex 1 to this Marine Notice.

3.5 A survey should also be carried out when the anti-fouling system is changed or replaced. While repairs generally do not require a survey, repairs that affect more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the anti-fouling system should be considered a change or replacement.

3.6 A non-compliant anti-fouling system controlled under annex 1 of the Convention, that undergoes repair must be repaired, or replaced with a compliant anti-fouling system.

3.7 The Administration has delegated Survey and Certification functions to the Recognized Organizations (ROs) authorized to act on its behalf in accordance with Regulation 1(4) of Annex 4 of the AFS Convention.

3.8 Ships of 24 meters or more in length, but less than 400 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages, excluding fixed or floating platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs, are required to carry on board a Declaration of Anti-Fouling System signed by the owner or the owner’s authorized agent in accordance with Regulation 5 of Annex 4 of the AFS Convention. The Declaration shall be accompanied by documentation, such as paint receipt or a contractor invoice, or contain an appropriate endorsement (Refer to Annex 2 of this Marine Notice for the form of the Declaration). A copy of the Declaration shall be sent to the Administration’s Regulations and Standards Department at: RegsandStandards@liscr.com.

4.0 Validity of Certificates

The International Anti-Fouling System Certificate ceases to be valid when the anti-fouling system is changed or replaced or is not endorsed in accordance with the AFS convention or upon transfer of the ship to the flag of another State.

5.0 Inspection of Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships

5.1 A ship to which this Convention applies may, in any port, shipyard, or offshore terminal of Party, be inspected by officers authorized by that Party for the purpose of determining whether the ship is in compliance with this Convention. Unless there are clear grounds for believing that a ship is in violation of this Convention, any such inspection shall be limited to:

1. verifying that, where required, there is onboard a valid International Anti-fouling

System Certificate or a Declaration on Anti-fouling System; and/or

1. a brief sampling of the ship’s anti-fouling system that does not affect the integrity, structure, or operation of the anti-fouling system taking into account guidelines in MEPC Resolution 356(78). However, the time required to process the results of such sampling shall not be used as a basis for preventing the movement and departure of the ship.
   1. If there are clear grounds to believe that the ship is in violation of this Convention, a thorough inspection may be carried out taking into account guidelines in MEPC Resolution 357(78).
   2. If the ship is detected to be in violation of this Convention, the Party carrying out the inspection may take steps to warn, detain, dismiss, or exclude the ship from its ports. A Party taking such action against a ship for the reason that the ship does not comply with this Convention shall immediately inform the Administration of the ship concerned.
   3. The European Union has adopted Commission Regulation (EC) no 536/2008, which calls for such action. Shipowners and operators should make every effort to ensure that their ships are able to demonstrate compliance in order to avoid delays or barring from the waters of a Party State.

6.0 Transfer of Flag

The Recognized Organization on behalf of the Administration may issue a new International Anti-fouling System Certificate for a ship transferring into the registry based on the certificate issued by the previous Administration, provided the previous Administration is a Party to the Convention, the Record of Anti-fouling Systems is up to date and the certificate is valid at the time of the transfer. This Administration may request, on a case by case basis in accordance with the AFS convention, that the previous Administration provide a copy of the previously issued certificate and relevant survey reports.

* * * * *

ANNEX 1 Form of IAFS CERTIFICATE

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

LIBERIA MARITIME AUTHORITY

Office of

Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs

INTERNATIONAL ANTI-FOULING SYSTEM CERTIFICATE

(This certificate shall be supplemented by a Record of Anti-fouling Systems)

Issued under the

International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships

under the authority of the Government of:

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

(name of the State)

by

(person or organization authorized)

When a Certificate has been previously issued, this Certificate replaces the certificate dated …….

Particulars of ship^[1]

Name of ship .....................................................................................................................................

Distinctive number or letters .............................................................................................................

Port of registry ..................................................................................................................................

Gross tonnage ....................................................................................................................................

IMO number^[2] ....................................................................................................................................

An anti-fouling system controlled under Annex 1 containing:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT:

1. the ship has been surveyed in accordance with regulation 1 of Annex 4 to the Convention; and
2. the survey shows that the anti-fouling system on the ship complies with the applicable requirements of Annex 1 to the Convention.

Issued at ...........................................................................................................................................

(Place of issue of Certificate)

………………………… ……………………………………………..

(Date of issue) (Signature of authorized official issuing the Certificate) Date of completion of the survey on which this certificate is issued: …………………………… MODEL FORM OF RECORD OF ANTI-FOULING SYSTEMS

RECORD OF ANTI-FOULING SYSTEMS

This Record shall be permanently attached to the International Anti-Fouling System Certificate.

Particulars of ship

Name of ship : ……………………………………………………

Distinctive number or letters : ……………………………………………………

IMO number : ……………………………………………………

Details of anti-fouling system(s) applied

Type(s) of anti-fouling system(s) used ............................................................................................

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Date(s) of application of anti-fouling system(s) …………………………………………………..

Name(s) of company(ies) and facility(ies)/location(s) where applied .............................................

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Name(s) of anti-fouling system manufacturer(s)...............................................................................

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name(s) and colour(s) of anti-fouling system(s)...............................................................................

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Type(s) of sealer coat, if applicable ………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name(s) and colour(s) of sealer coat applied, if applicable

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Date of application of sealer coat…………………………………………………………….……

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that this Record is correct in all respects.

Issued at..........................................................................................................................................

(Place of issue of Record)

………………………… ……………………………………………..

(Date of issue) (Signature of authorized official issuing the Certificate) Endorsement of the Records^[4]

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that a survey required in accordance with regulation 1(1)(b) of Annex 4 to the Convention found that the ship was in compliance with the Convention

Details of anti-fouling system(s) applied

Type(s) of anti-fouling system(s) used..............................................................................................

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Date(s) of application of anti-fouling system(s) …………………………………………………..

Name(s) of company(ies) and facility(ies)/location(s) where applied .............................................

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Name(s) of anti-fouling system manufacturer(s)...............................................................................

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name(s) and colour(s) of anti-fouling system(s)...............................................................................

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Type(s) of sealer coat, if applicable ………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name(s) and colour(s) of sealer coat applied, if applicable

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Date of application of sealer coat…………………………………………………………….……

Signed:...................................................................................

(Signature of authorized official issuing the Record)

Place: ..................................................................................... Date⁶: ....................................................................................

(Seal or stamp of the authority)

MODEL FORM OF DECLARATION ON ANTI-FOULING SYSTEM

DECLARATION ON ANTI-FOULING SYSTEM

Drawn up under the

International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships

Name of ship ..................................................................................................................................

Distinctive number or letters .........................................................................................................

Port of registry ...............................................................................................................................

Length ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Gross tonnage ................................................................................................................................

IMO number (if applicable)............................................................................................................

I declare that the anti-fouling system used on this ship complies with Annex 1 of the Convention.

………………………… ..........................................................................................

(Date) (Signature of owner or owner’s authorized agent)

Endorsement of anti-fouling system(s) applied

Type(s) of anti-fouling system(s) used and date(s) of application.................................................

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………… ..........................................................................................

(Date) (Signature of owner or owner’s authorized agent)

Type(s) of anti-fouling system(s) used and date(s) of application.................................................

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………… ..........................................................................................

(Date) (Signature of owner or owner’s authorized agent)

Type(s) of anti-fouling system(s) used and date(s) of application.................................................

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………… ..........................................................................................

(Date) (Signature of owner or owner’s authorized agent)

1. Alternatively, the particulars of the ship may be placed horizontally in boxes. ↑

2. In accordance with the IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme adopted by the Organization with Assembly resolution A.600(15). ↑

3. Date of expiration of any implementation period specified in article 4(2) or Annex 1. ↑

4. This page of the Record shall be reproduced and added to the Record as considered necessary by the Administration. 5 Date of completion of the survey on which this endorsement is made. ↑