International Maritime Organization Policies

To prevent the pollution of the marine environment by the discharge of harmful substances or effluents containing such substances and to prevent harmful environmental effects of organotin compounds in anti-fouling paints.

Restrictions

IMO policies apply to IMO Member States and Associate Members that have ratified its policies. A list of IMO Member States and Associate Members can be found here.

The International Conference on Marine Pollution (MARPOL) contains regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships - both accidental pollution and that from routine operations - and currently includes six technical Annexes, covering pollution from oil, noxious liquid substances, harmful substances in packages form, sewage from ships, garbage from ships, and sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and ozone depleting substances.

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS) prohibits the use of harmful organotins in anti-fouling paints used on ships and establishes a mechanism to prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in anti-fouling systems. This applies to all ships (including fixed and floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs), and Floating Production Storage and Offtake units (FPSOs).