 |
Eco-friendly shipping pact
 |
News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News". |
Latest news « News archive
31 Dec 2009
Singapore on Friday acceded to an international eco-friendly shipping convention. It deposited its Instrument of Accession to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The AFS Convention was adopted at the IMO on Oct 5, 2001, and entered
into force on Sept 17 last year. When it enters into force for
Singapore on March 31 next year, the Republic will join 40 other
countries to be a party to the AFS Convention.
The Convention will apply to ships registered with Singapore and also
to ships calling at the Port of Singapore. Singapore's accession
followed consultations with the Singapore Shipping Association and the
Association of Singapore Marine Industries.
Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore (MPA) said: 'As one of the world's busiest port, protection
of the marine environment is of great importance to Singapore.
Singapore's accession to the AFS Convention underscores our commitment
to environmentally-friendly shipping and port activities.'
Anti-fouling paints/systems are used to coat the hulls of a ship to
prevent fouling organisms such as algae and molluscs from attaching to
it. If allowed to build up, these fouling organisms would reduce the
speed of the vessel or increase the fuel consumption to maintain a
certain speed. Some of these anti-fouling paints contain chemicals that
are harmful to the marine environment.
The AFS Convention bans the use of harmful anti-fouling paints/systems
on the hulls of new and existing ships and encourages the use of
environment friendly anti-fouling paints such as silicon paint.
The accession to the AFS Convention adds to the list of IMO Conventions
on the protection of the marine environment which Singapore had
ratified and implemented.
Source: Straits Times
