Global General

Singapore commits to eco-friendly shipping

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-31 17:00

SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Thrusday that the country has started eco-friendly shipping.

The island-state has deposited its Instrument of Accession to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), according to a statement by the MPA.

The AFS Convention was adopted at the IMO on October 5, 2001, and became effective on September 17 2008. When it enters into force for Singapore on March 31, 2010, the country will join 40 other countries to be a party to the AFS Convention.

The Convention will apply to ships registered with Singapore and also to ships calling at the Port of Singapore.

MPA Chief Executive Lam Yi Young said, "As one of the world's busiest port, protection of the marine environment is of great importance to Singapore. Singapore's accession to the AFS Convention underscores our commitment to environmentally-friendly shipping and port activities."

Anti-fouling paints and systems are used to coat the hulls of a ship to prevent fouling organisms such as algae and molluscs from attaching to it. If allowed to build up, these fouling organisms would reduce the speed of the vessel or increase the fuel consumption to maintain a certain speed.