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TBT still in use
01 Nov 2002
TBT antifouling (tributyltin) is already banned in European Union countries on vessels under 25 metres. The IMO is now calling for a complete ban on all TBT antifouling from January 1, 2003. But we're not going to get rid of it that quickly.
Although there was an agreement at the IMO that tin should not be applied to ships going internationally from the end of this year, this was done on the basis that some applications have a five-year life.
Duncan Norman of CAEP said: "In practice this means the antifouling may be applied in December of this year but in five years that product will have ended its useful life so then it will have to be removed or covered up with a sealer coat."
One of the main advocates for the TBT ban was the USA but they will not be able to get laws through congress in time to comply with the ban.
The EU's Marketing and Use Directive, however, requires all member states to ban the use of TBT antifoulings altogether from January 1, 2003.
DP
