The Environment & Antifouling Paints

In January 2003 the application of TBT based antifouling paints is being banned. Simply put, the reason is because such paints have been proven to be severely detrimental to the marine environment and also pose a threat to people. Global Ban on Toxic Ship Paint Agreed

In many countries the use of TBT based antifouling paints has been banned from being applied on craft less than 25 meters in length. The ban in 2003 will now affect all structures, craft and vessels. It is estimated that this will directly impact over 75% of world shipping tonnage.

Whilst the shipping community appreciates the need to protect the environment it has had concerns that the new generation antifouling paints / coatings that have been developed by the main paint manufactures will not be as effective as TBT based paints, some are based on old technologies that are already attracting the attention of governments and environmental lobbies and are highly priced.

Owners in anti-TBT club - TBT manufacturers lobby diplomats

"SealCoat is the world's leading provider of poison free antifouling as it was proved to be the only viable alternative solution in the test on alternative antifouling coatings that took place in Hamburg in 1999 organized by the research institute Limnomar, funded by the German environmental foundation and coordinated by the WWF.