Hello, as some of you seem concerned about the deleterious effects of
anti-fouling agents, here is a copy of a Greenpeace press release :
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 11:36:36 +0200
Subject: SHIPPING INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO CONCERNS OVER TOXIC SHIP PAINT
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SHIPPING INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO CONCERNS OVER TOXIC SHIP PAINT
London 2nd October 2000: As the International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) convenes today to discuss a ban on toxic Tributyltin (TBT) used
as an anti-fouling agent in ship paints, Greenpeace revealed that
shipping companies are already taking the initiative and are
increasingly using TBT free paints.
Greenpeace conducted tests on the paint from the hulls of 119 sea
vessels in the ports of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp last week. The
samples reveal that over thirty-five per cent of the ships tested are
already using alternatives to toxic TBT paint on their hulls.
Greenpeace activists painted “Stop TBT” on the hulls of ships that
were still using toxic paint.
"While the IMO continues to debate a ban on toxic TBT, it’s evident
that a growing number of ship owners are starting to respond to
concerns that TBT is contaminating the world’s oceans and are using
non toxic alternatives. The IMO should encourage the rest of the
industry to follow by instigating a permanent ban on the use of TBT
in ship paint immediately," said Martin Besieux of Greenpeace from
the IMO meeting in London.
In a letter to Greenpeace last week Mediterranean Shipping Company,
one of the world’s largest shipping companies, announced it will
paint all its new ships with TBT free paint and replace as much as
possible on their existing fleet by 2003. Other shipping companies,
including the Japanese company MOL, U.S. owned Cunard Line Ltd and
German owned Hapag-Loyd and Hamburg-Sud, have also started to phase
out the use of TBT paint.
TBT is an aggressive biocide that has been used in anti-fouling ship
paint since the 1970s. The toxicity of TBT prevents the growth of
algae, barnacles and other marine organisms on the ship's hull. TBT
leaches from the paint and enters the marine environment where it
accumulates in sediments, especially in areas with heavy ship traffic
such as harbours and ports.
Greenpeace research this summer found very high levels of TBT
contamination in sediment from harbours in Greece, Italy, France and
Spain. TBT is responsible for the disruption for the endocrine system
of marine shellfish leading to development of male sex
characteristics in female marine snails. It has also been found to
impair the immune system of organisms and lead to the development of
shell malformations in shellfish even after exposure to extremely low
levels of TBT in seawater. Its impact on human health is also in
question.
Last year, the IMO adopted a resolution to ban the application of TBT
on ships by 2003 and stated that all ships should be TBT free by
2008. This week, the IMO is expected to agree a treaty to ban TBT at
its 45th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC
45), for adoption at a diplomatic conference in 2001.
"While the IMO continues to discuss a ban on TBT, the marine
environment continues to suffer from its use. The time for debate is
over. It’s now time for action," added Besieux.
For further information please contact:
Martin Besieux, Greenpeace toxics campaigner at the IMO meeting: + 32
496 1615 85
Wytze van der Naald, Greenpeace toxics campaigner: + 31 20 523 6209
or + 31 20 627 9330
Matilda Bradshsw + 31 6 535 04701
or http://www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/toxic_tbt.html
end
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For more information on this press release please contact:
Greenpeace International Press Office
T: ++ 31 20 5249515
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