Regional Workshop on Surveys and Inspections related to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships

Thirty-seven representatives from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Montenegro, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Spain, Syria, and Tunisia participated in a Regional Workshop on the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) held recently (7 & 8 June 2011) in Larnaca.

This Workshop on surveys and inspections relating to the AFS Convention was organised within the framework of the EU-funded SafeMed II Project and of UNEP-MAP programme of activities approved by the 16th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, and delivered by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC).

Representatives from each country gave presentations to share their respective experiences in the ratification and implementation of the AFS Convention, and several important aspects concerning the AFS Convention were addressed.

The responsibilities of ensuring the safe disposal of anti-fouling waste and the establishment and enforcement of rules for stakeholders covering shipyards, boat owners, marinas’ operators and others involved in hull cleaning services were discussed, as was the importance of specialized training for Flag and Port State Control Officers in the proper implementation of the AFS Convention.

During the two day Workshop, the scope and implications of the AFS Convention were outlined with special emphasis on the importance that various State Parties’ obligations go beyond simply ensuring that ships are complying with the AFS Convention.

Countries yet to ratify the AFS Convention received information with respect to the ratification process while technical presentations on its implementation and enforcement were also delivered. The Final List of Participants, Programme and Conclusions as well as the presentations are available on REMPEC website http://www.rempec.org/viewNews.asp?NewsID=186