You may be required to comply with this obligation if you intend to operate a ship in Australian waters. When your ship is in an Australian shipping facility, it may be inspected to determine whether the ship complies with anti-fouling requirements. It is an offence to take a ship which does not meet anti-fouling requirements into an Australian shipping facility.
The obligation applies to all ships. Ships of 400 gross tons and above, or, ships less than 400 gross tons but greater than 24 metres in length engaged in international voyages will require survey and certification or appropriate documentation.
The key provisions of the obligation are that:
- all ships shall not apply or re-apply organotin-based compounds which act as biocides in anti-fouling systems (i.e. TBT-based paints)
- all ships are banned from having such compounds on their hulls or external surfaces, or will be required to have a protective coating preventing the leaching of such compounds.
