3.16 At its forty-first session in March 1998, the MEPC
reemphasized the problem of reception facilities and decided
to set up a Working Group dedicated to consider the relevant
issues with the aim of identifying problems and proposing
solutions, including development of a generic port waste
management plan which could be used by the Administration in
any country in providing a national port waste reception
strategy. This plan may be suitable for assisting ports in
obtaining funding for the establishment of adequate waste
reception facilities. It is expected that the outcome of this
Working Group will facilitate the work of the MEPC in finding
an appropriate solution to this long-standing problem.
Harmful effects of the use of anti-fouling paints for ships
3.17 Anti-fouling paints are used to coat the bottoms of
ships to prevent sealife from attaching themselves to the
hull, thereby to maintain the economic speed of ships. The
harmful effects of the anti-fouling paints which used
tributyl tin (TBT) were first brought to the attention of IMO
in 1988. By that time there was evidence that TBT compounds
in anti-fouling paints for ships can pose substantial risk of
toxicity and other chronic impacts to ecologically and
economically important marine organisms especially in coastal
waters. A number of countries, based on their scientific
studies and investigations, began to adopt measures at
national or regional levels to control the use of TBT
compounds in anti-fouling paints. With a view to protecting
the marine environment, the MEPC has, since then, kept this
matter under review.
3.18 In the discussion at subsequent MEPC sessions, it was
agreed that there was a need to regulate the use of TBT
anti-fouling paints at an international level. A major
advancement in this direction was achieved in November 1990
when the MEPC of IMO adopted resolution MEPC.46(30) on
"Measures to control potential adverse impacts
associated with the use of TBT compounds in anti-fouling
paints". This resolution recommended that Governments
adopt and promote effective measures within their
jurisdiction to eliminate the use of anti-fouling paints
containing TBT compounds on small ships of less than 25
meters in length as they were causing deformations in oysters
and sex changes in whelks. The resolution also encouraged
development of alternatives to TBT anti-fouling paints so
that appropriate ways could be found towards the total
prohibition of the use of TBT compounds in anti-fouling
paints for all ships.
3.19 As encouraged by IMO, Member Governments began to take
measures to control the adverse effects of TBT anti-fouling
paints for ships. At MEPC 41 in March 1998, information was
provided on alternative anti-fouling paint systems, including
their effectiveness and risk posed to the aquatic environment
by these new systems.
3.20 In order to further the development of international
measures to reduce the harmful effects of the use of TBT
anti-fouling paints for ships, the thirty-eighth session of
the MEPC in July 1996 established a Correspondence Group on
this issue, and the final conclusions of the Group was
presented to the forty-first session of the MEPC in March
1998. After an extensive exchange of views, the MEPC agreed
that there is a need to expedite the process in IMO to phase
out the use of TBT anti-fouling paints worldwide by
introducing measures aimed at a total ban of such paints on
ships and decided to establish a Working Group at MEPC 42
dedicated to the consideration of the matter. The Working
Group was instructed to prepare a report, including a draft
legal instrument and a timetable for the phase-out of harmful
anti-fouling systems for consideration by the MEPC.
3.21 The work in IMO with regard to the phase-out of harmful
anti-fouling paints for ships is gaining momentum. It is
expected that significant progress could be made in the next
few years.
