ABS: The use of anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne is prohibited from January 1st, 2023

Amendments to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) adopted by the IMO, ban the presence of cybutryne in hull coatings, effective from January 1st, 2023, ABS announced.

Cybutryne, also known under its industry name Irgarol-1051 is applied to hulls of ships as an anti-fouling agent with generic antifouling benefit by inhibiting the electron transport in algae and plants.

As an increasing number of studies have become available on the environmental and ecological impacts of cybutryne, together with an equally increasing number of environmental risk assessment evaluations, the toxicity and persistence of this substance has been determined, in some instances even more harmful than tributyltin (TBT).

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