What Boaters Can Do To Be Environmentally Friendly
ANTI-FOULING PAINTS
There is no queston that keeping your boats hull clean and free of growth is important. Better boat speed and lower fuel costs are two major advantages of doing so. There are, however, other considerations.
Anti-fouling paints work by releasing toxic chemicals from the hull into the surrounding water. In general, the more effective the paint, the more toxic its ingredients. Copper-based paints, used for deeades, have proven adequate to keep a hull clean for a year or more, and they contain fewer toxic metallic compounds.
Newer, more toxic organotin anti-fouling paints were restricted by national legislation in 1988. Organotin paints include the familiar tributyltin (TBT) - based anti - fouling paints. Federal law now prohibits the use of any TBT paints on boats under 25 meters long, with two exceptions: Aluminum-hulled boats and aluminum outboard motors or lower driveunits may be painted with an approvod TBT coating. In order to be approved, the organotin paint must have a certain restricted release rate. In addition, in many states, only boatyards with special licenses can purchase and apply TBT paints. If you would like more information about the TBT restrictions, please contact your state boating law administrator.
Tin-based paints are very effective at killing growth on the bottom of boats. Unfortunately, the highly toxic tin is also absorbed by fish through their gills and accumulates to high levels in sediment. Oysters, clams and fish are threatened by this paint as well.
ACTIONS
1. Use the right paint for the job. Double check with your marine painting professional to determine if there are altematives and choose the most environmentally friendly one.
2. When your boat is being scraped and/or sanded, use a vacuum sander or place a dry cloth underneath to catch paint scrapings and dust. Treat the dust/scrapings as hazardous waste; consult the yard manager or local authorities for safe disposal instructions. If you don't have a drop cloth, sweep up old scrapings and dispose of them the same way. If the work is being done by a boatyard, ask them to follow these procedures when working on your boat.
Keep all paints, thinners, brush cleaners, etc., away from the water and dispose of them carefully. The possibility exists of chemicals being washed into the water from work areas.
LITTER
Plastic and litter not only ruin the natural beauty of boating waters, they can also injure or kill aquatic life. Many water systems are already under severe biological stress.
The Marpol Treaty is a new intemational law intended to reduce pollution of marine environments worldwide. Annex V of this treaty places graduated restrictions on the disposal of garbage and trash at sea. Dumping of any material or waste in lakes, rivers, sounds or bays within three miles from shore is strictly forbidden. Plastics are prohibited from being thrown overboard anywhere in the world.
