As announced in ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1245, at the 76th Meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC76) held in June 2021, an amendment to the AFS Convention was adopted to add Cybutryne (CAS No. 28159-98-0), which has been newly identified as a hazardous substance, to the list of banned substances.

This amendment shall apply from 1 January 2023, and in the case of ships* with antifouling systems containing Cybutryne as of the effective date, such antifouling systems shall be removed or covered with a sealer coat deemed appropriate by the Society up to the following (a) or (b), whichever is earlier:
(a) 60 months following the last application to the ship of an anti-fouling system containing Cybutryne
(b) The next scheduled renewal of the anti-fouling system after 1 January 2023

On the other hand, vessels that the antifouling systems without containing Cybutryne and the AFS Certificate have been issued as of the effective date must have documentary verification and be issued a Certificate in the new format within 2 years from the effective date (until 31 December 2024).

(1) For ships other than Japanese-flag vessels** that will not have an AFS periodical survey between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024, or when wish to be issued with a Certificate in the new format before having an AFS periodical survey.
- Please arrange the AFS Occasional Survey by 31 December 2024 and be issued a Certificate in the new format. Since the above occasional survey does not require an on-board survey and the issuance of a certificate is possible only by document verification, please submit a survey application to the ClassNK survey office in charge.

(2) Other than the above
- No special action is required as the certificate will be issued in a new format upon completion of the AFS periodical survey to be conducted within the above period.

(To be continued)