ENVIRONMENTAL Press Release

For information, contact: 01-982 6590 Or Site: Kalochori, Thessalonica 031-796 321 - 796 322

Greece isn't waiting for the Queen Thessalonica, Greece, November, 1999-Unlike the QEII, although ΤΒΤ isn't yet banned in Greek waters, Athena-Hellenic Engineering Industrial and Touristic Co SA, in a joint venture with Technical Company Christopher D. Constantinidis SA, are keeping the environment in mind, with α view to α clean Mediterranean.

They are using poison-free marine antifouling products in an underwater construction project here, years ahead of worldwide bans against using poisons and heavy metals in our seas. They are coating the outflow pipes of Thessalonica's new Sewage Treatment Plant extension with SealCoat patented marine antifouling and tank coatings, supplied and applied by Almyra SA, in the largest stationary underwater project of its type to use the 100% poison- and solvent-free, ecologically friendly products.

On Tuesday, November 30, 1999 at 12:00 Noon the media is invited to tour this new addition, and to watch α working demonstration of these products being applied on site.
12:00 Νοοn: From Aristotelous Plaza in the centre of Thessalonica, the media will travel by bus and tugboat to view the plant itself and the various production sites

• At the first work site, the concrete pipes are being produced. They will run underground for 7.5 km and then will continue underwater for 2.5 km.
• Next, at the Harbour site, environmentally friendly SealCoat antifouling products are being applied to the 2.5 km of dual underwater pipes before they are installed in the Mediterranean.
• Last, there will be α tugboat ride out to the production barge to view α working demonstration of the handling, assembling, and sinking of the SealCoat treated pipes.

Α versatile product, the velvet-like epoxy-and-fiber SeaICoat antifouling that coats the interior of the Ι,600 mm diameter pipes also coats the underwater exterior of the tugboat transporting members of the media to the construction barge. SealCoat works like the coat of α Seal, the fibers moving constantly with water flow. Beginning growth either has no chance to get a foothold, or falls off as a result of its own increased weight. Inside the pipes, the surface mechanically self-cleans with the outflow of treated water.

Scientists have implicated poisonous antifoulings in the suicide deaths of whales and dolphins which have beached themselves in droves in many places in the world; in the diminished or non-existent reproductive lives of oysters and alligators; in the birth deformities in fish; in the reduction of sea plant life.

Whether or not these poisons are also responsible for the diminished reproductive lives of humans is not known, but there are implications. Greece has the largest amount of boat traffic for α country of its size in the world, from both large and small ships and boats, and thus probably the greatest amount of ΤΒΤ's, poisons and heavy metals in its waters. It is also α country where the diet contains α large percentage of seafood, and the people have the lowest reproductive rate in the European Union.

In an industry where using poisons has been the norm in dealing with unwanted marine growth, Athena Hellenic and Constantinidis are taking α giant step forward..