2 Initial Inspection
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Marine Environment Protection Committee - Resolution MEPC.357(78) - 2022 Guidelines for Inspection of Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships - (adopted on 10 June 2022) - Annex - 2022 Guidelines for Inspection of Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships - 2 Initial Inspection

2 Initial Inspection

2.1 Ships required to carry an IAFS Certificate or Declaration on Anti-Fouling Systems (Parties of the AFS Convention)

2.1.1 The PSCO should check the validity of the IAFS Certificate or Declaration on Anti-Fouling Systems, and the attached Record of Anti-Fouling Systems, if appropriate.

2.1.2 The only practical way to apply paint to the ship's bottom (underwater part) is in a dry dock. This means that the date of application of paint on the IAFS Certificate should be checked by comparing the period of dry-docking with the date on the certificate.

2.1.3 If the paint has been applied during a scheduled dry-dock period, it has to be registered in the ship's logbook. Furthermore, this scheduled dry-docking can be verified by the endorsement date on the (statutory) Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (SOLAS, regulation I/12(a)(v)) and Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (SOLAS, regulation I/7).

2.1.4 In case of an unscheduled dry-dock period, it could be verified by the registration in the ship's logbook.

2.1.5 It can be additionally verified by the endorsement date on the (Class) Hull Certificate, the dates on the Manufacturer's Declaration or by confirmation of the shipyard.

2.1.6 The IAFS Certificate includes a series of tick boxes indicating for each of the anti-fouling systems, describing the following situations:

  • .1 if an anti-fouling system controlled under Annex 1 to the AFS Convention has not been applied during or after construction of this ship;

  • .2 if an anti-fouling system controlled under Annex 1 to the AFS Convention has been applied on this ship previously, but has been removed;

  • .3 if an anti-fouling system controlled under Annex 1 to the AFS Convention has been applied on this ship previously, but has been covered with a sealer coat;

  • .4 if an anti-fouling system controlled under Annex 1 of the AFS Convention has been applied on this ship previously, but is not in the external coating layer of the hull or external parts or surfaces on 1 January 2023 (not applicable for organotin); and

  • .5 if an anti-fouling system controlled under Annex 1 of the AFS Convention was applied on this ship prior to 1 January 2023, but must be removed or covered with a sealer coat no later than 60 months following the last application to the ship of an anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne (not applicable for organotin).

2.1.7 Particular attention should be given to verifying that the survey for issuance of the current IAFS Certificate matches the dry-dock period listed in the ship's log(s)footnote and that only one tick box is marked for each of the substances controlled under Annex 1.

2.1.8 The Record of Anti-Fouling Systems should be attached to the IAFS Certificate and be up to date. The most recent record should agree with the tick box on the front of the IAFS Certificate. The issuing of the IAFS Certificate should be in accordance with regulation 2(3) of Annex 4 of the AFS Convention.

2.2 Ships of non-Parties to the AFS Convention

2.2.1 Ships of non-Parties to the AFS Convention are not entitled to be issued with an IAFS Certificate. Therefore, the PSCO should ask for documentation that contains the same information as in an IAFS Certificate and take this into account in determining compliance with the requirements.

2.2.2 If the existing anti-fouling system is declared not to be controlled under Annex 1 to the Convention, without being documented by an International Anti-Fouling System Certificate, verification should be carried out to confirm that the anti-fouling system complies with the requirements of the Convention. This verification may be based on sampling and/or testing and/or reliable documentation, as deemed necessary, based on experience gained and the existing circumstances. Documentation for verification could be, for example, MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), or similar, a declaration of compliance from the anti-fouling system manufacturer, invoices from the shipyard and/or the anti-fouling system manufacturer.

2.2.3 Ships of non-Parties may have Statements of Compliance issued in order to comply with regional requirements, for example, Regulation (EC) 782/2003 as amended by Regulation (EC) 536/2008, which could be considered as providing sufficient evidence of compliance for organotin compounds.

2.2.4 In all other aspects the PSCO should be guided by the procedures for ships required to carry an IAFS Certificate.

2.2.5 The PSCO should ensure that no more favourable treatment is applied to ships of non-Parties to the AFS Convention.

Parent topic: Annex - 2022 Guidelines for Inspection of Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships
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