The Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2024

Prohibitions and requirements for ships

6.—(1) An anti-fouling system listed in Column One of the Table in Annex 1 to the Convention must not be applied or reapplied to a ship.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a ship—

(a) must not bear an organotin compound which acts as a biocide in anti-fouling systems on its hull or another external part or surface; or

(b) must bear a coating which forms a barrier to prevent an organotin compound, which acts as a biocide, leaching from the anti-fouling system containing that substance.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to a fixed or floating platform, a floating storage unit or a floating production storage and off-loading unit—

(a) constructed before 1st January 2003; and

(b) which has not been in dry dock on or after 1st January 2003.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), a ship bearing an anti-fouling system which contains cybutryne in the external coating layer of its hull or another external part or surface on the date on which these Regulations come into force must on or before the relevant day—

(a) remove the anti-fouling system; or

(b) apply a coating which forms a barrier to prevent cybutryne leaching from the anti-fouling system containing that substance.

(5) Paragraph (4) does not apply to—

(a) a fixed or floating platform, a floating storage unit or a floating production storage and off-loading unit—

(i) constructed before 1st January 2023; and

(ii) which has not been in dry dock on or after 1st January 2023;

(b) a ship not engaged on international voyages;

(c) a ship of less than 400 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages which has been excepted from the requirements of paragraph (4) by the Secretary of State.

(6) In this regulation—

“international voyage” means a voyage between—

(a)

a port in the United Kingdom and a port outside the United Kingdom; or

(b)

a port in a country other than the United Kingdom and a port in any other country or territory which is outside the United Kingdom;

“relevant day” means—

(a)

the day on which the earliest scheduled renewal of the anti-fouling system takes place during the period starting on the day after the date on which these Regulations come into force and ending on 31st December 2027; or

(b)

31st December 2027, if there is no scheduled renewal of the anti-fouling system during the period described in sub-paragraph (a).