Intertanko blasts non-ratification of TBT ban
The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships was adopted on 5 October 2001 but so far only 17 out of 166 IMO member states have ratified the Convention.
Intertanko notes: The IMO Secretariat has recently submitted a paper strongly urging member states to ratify the convention; but such slow ratification of important conventions gets the IMO a bad name. Those responsible environmental NGOs who have been demanding action are right to do so. Intertanko welcomes their support.
It adds: “Plenty of responsible shipowners have been proactively abiding by the Convention’s requirements since the 2003 target date - irrespective of non-ratification. But the laudable actions of these responsible owners are jeopardised by those who are still trading their ships with TBT paint systems - because the Convention has not been ratified. Not only are TBT systems cheaper, but the fact that they are still in use takes away from the beneficial effect on the environment of all those who have changed their ways. Again the good suffer because others are able escape the “law” which has been laid down but not ratified and therefore still not entered into force.”
From 1 January 2008, EU law will ban the use of TBT paints on EU-flagged vessels, and any ship using TBT paint systems, regardless of its flag, will be barred from EU ports even though most EU states haven’t ratified the IMO
