Lloyd’s Register recently published their spring 2020 edition of Future IMO and ILO Legislation to help all relevant parties prepare for what’s to come. The most relevant topics for superyacht builders are the following:
The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships
A draft amendment to the Antifouling Convention to include controls on cybutryne was agreed. The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, which was adopted on 5 October 2001, will prohibit the use of harmful organotin compounds in anti-fouling paints used on ships and will establish a mechanism to prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in anti-fouling systems. The Convention entered into force on 17 September 2008. IMO agreed on amendments to Annex 1 to the AFS Convention on a ban to apply or re-apply anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne from 1 July 2022.
Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II,V and VI and the NOx Technical code 2008
IMO adopted amendments to MARPOL and the NOx Technical Code regarding the use of electronic record books, approved as an alternative to hard copy record books under the MARPOL Convention (entry into force 1 October 2020). IMO also adopted guidelines to support the use of electronic record books.
Amendments to the Ballast Water Management Convention
On October 13, 2019, amendments to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of potentially invasive species in ships’ ballast water came into force. All ships must have a ship-specific ballast water management plan and keep a ballast water record book.