On 5 October 2001, in London, under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) is adopted, banning organotin (TBT) compounds on ship hulls.

The Convention responds to evidence of tributyltin toxicity in the marine environment. It requires phase-out of TBT-based systems and a register of approved anti-fouling systems. The depositary is the IMO Secretary-General.

It entered into force on 17 September 2008. It remains the IMO’s central instrument against toxic anti-fouling.

The official text is published by the IMO and in national treaty series.

For maritime law, 5 October 2001 marks AFS adoption in London.

The document is available on the IMO / UK Treaty Series sites.

The AFS Convention of 5 October 2001 remains the milestone of the TBT ban on ships.

Image: London / naval; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: AFS Convention. Treaty text: UK Treaty Series — AFS Convention.