Regarding the procedure, surveys and certification of AFS Convention, which will enter into force on 17 September 2008, please be advised as follows:

1. AFS Convention is to apply to the following ships (except any warships or others).
(1) Ships entitled to fly the flag of a Party
(2) Ships not entitled to fly the flag of a Party, but which operate under the authority of a Party, and
(3) Ships that enter a port, shipyard, or offshore terminal of a Party, but do not fall within above (1) & (2).
2. In addition, ships referred to in above 1. engaged in international voyages, excluding fixed or float platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs have been required as follows:
(1) Ships of 400 gross tonnage and above are to be subject to surveys and to carry AFS certificate onboard.
(2) Ships of 24 meters or more in length, but less than 400 gross tonnage to carry a Declaration signed by the owner or owner's authorized agent onboard together with supplementary documents, which ensure the appropriate AFS is applied.
3. Domestic Japanese flagged ships are also to be banned the AFS using TBT paint without sealer coat on and after 17 September 2008 in accordance with Japanese Domestic Low.
4. The following 30 States have ratified AFS Convention as of 25 August 2008. The latest list of States ratified the Convention can be confirmed through the web-site of International Maritime Organization "IMO" (http://www.imo.org/Conventions/mainframe.asp?topic_id=248).
Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tuvalu
5. The kinds of surveys for AFS Convention are as follows:
(1) Initial Survey
(2) Periodical Survey
(3) Occasional Survey
6. Prior to Initial Survey, there are possibilities that the PSC requests to show the documenta