Subject

Surveys and Certification for AFS Convention

Technical
Information
No. TEC-0745
Date 5 September 2008
To whom it may concern

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 documentation in
order to confirm the compliance with AFS Convention. Thus, the Statement of Compliance
(hereinafter, SOC) issued by ClassNK and relevant documents relating AFS should be kept
onboard. Regarding the SOC, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0743.
(To be continued)
NOTES：

 ClassNK Technical Information is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to its readers.
 ClassNK, its officers, employees and agents or sub-contractors do not warrant the accuracy of the information contained
herein and are not liable for any loss, damage or expense sustained whatsoever by any person caused by use of or
reliance on this information.
 Back numbers are available on ClassNK Internet Homepage (URL: www.classnk.or.jp).
 ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0745

7. Only issuance fee of AFS Certificate will be charged in case where the SOC has been issued and
Initial Survey would be carried out concurrently with Periodical Survey for Classification or
Docking Survey.
8. Initial Survey is to be carried out as follows.
(1) The following occasion, whichever is earlier, together with Docking Survey in principle.
(i) When AF Systems are changed or replaced on and after 17 September 2008.
(ii) 16 September 2010
(2) In case of Japanese flagged ships, Initial Survey is to be carried out at the occasion of the
above 8.(1) or first Periodical Survey for Classification on or after 17 September 2008,
whichever is earlier.
(3) In case where the ships, which are not Japanese flagged ships and the SOC has been issued,
Initial Survey is to be carried out at the following occasion.
(i) Occasion specified in the above 8.(1), or
(ii) Periodical Survey for Classification or Occasional Survey, which will be carried out on
and after 17 September 2008 but not later than 16 September 2010
9. Definitions
(1) “Change” of AFS means that existing AFS using TBT paint covered by sealer coat is
removed completely and then new AFS using non-TBT paint is applied.
(2) “Replacement” of AFS means that
(i) AFS using non-TBT paint is applied again.
(ii) AFS over the sealer coat is applied again without removing of existing AFS using TBT
paint and sealer coat.
10. Documents, which are required to submit at Initial Survey
(1) In case where the SOC has been issued, the following documents each are to be submitted to
responsible Service Site.
(i) Application
(ii) Copy of the SOC
(2) In case where AFS will be changed or replaced and/or the SOC has not been issued, the
following documents each are to be submitted to responsible Service Site.
(i) Application
(ii) Purchase order sheets of the anti-fouling system and sealer coats
(iii) Receipt of the anti-fouling system and sealer coats issued by the manufacturer
(iv) Declaration letter of anti-fouling system and sealer coats issued by the manufacturer
(including the Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number “CAS No.”)
(v) Material Safety Data Sheets “MSDS” or equivalently issued by the manufacturer
(vi) Painting specification issued by the manufacturer (including the surface preparation
grades)
(vii) History about painting work up to the present from initial application issued by each
shipyard and/or paint manufacturer or ship’s owner (including the specification of
blasting to all removal TBT paint at flat bottom and vertical bottom or all covered by
sealer coat)
(viii)Copy of the Certificate of Nationality (for new ship only)
(To be continued)

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 ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0745

11. Document examination at Initial Survey

(1) In case where the SOC has been issued, it is not required to examine the documents in
principle. If AFS would be changed or replaced, however, documents might be examined
based on the contents of the change/replacement.
(2) In case where the SOC has not been issued, the contents of document examination are as
follows:
(i) AF paints are Tin Free by the declaration letters issued by the manufacturers
(ii) Name of the chemical abstract and CAS No.
(iii) Removal of TBT paint partially or wholly at flat and vertical bottom (in case of partial
removal, application of sealer coat is to be confirmed)
12. Site survey at Initial Survey
(1) In case where the SOC has been issued, the contents of site survey are as follows:
(i) Confirmation of availability of documents specified in the above 10.(2) except the
application on board
(ii) If AFS would be changed or replaced, site survey might be carried out based on the
contents of the change/replacement.
(2) In case where the SOC has not been issued, the contents of site survey are as follows:
(i) Confirmation of availability of documents specified in the above 10.(2) except the
application on board
(ii) Verification of the name, colour, manufacturer of paints
(iii) Application of AF paints and sealer coats with satisfactory result
(iv) In case where the removal of existing AFS cannot be confirmed by the history, such
AFS is to be removed completely by sand blasting or to be covered by sealer coats.
13. Periodical Survey
(1) Intervals
(i) For non-Japanese flagged ships, Periodical Surveys are to be carried out concurrently
with Docking Surveys for Classification.
(ii) For Japanese flagged ships, Periodical Surveys are to be carried out concurrently with
Periodical Surveys and Docking Surveys for Classification.
(2) The contents of Periodical Surveys are as follows:
(i) Confirmation of availability of documents specified in the above 10.(2) except the
application on board
(ii) General examination for hull at the time of Docking Surveys at dry dock in order to
confirm the condition of existing AFS.
14. Occasional Survey
Occasional Surveys may be carried out where necessary at the following occasions.
(1) When the AFS is changed or replaced.
(2) When the major conversion affecting existing AFS is carried out.
(3) When the owner requested.
(4) Other occasion if deemed necessary.
15. Issuance and endorsement of AFS certificate
(1) “International Anti-Fouling System Certificate” with “Record of Anti-Fouling System” will
be issued by responsible Service Site upon completion of Initial Survey.
(To be continued)

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 ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0745

(2) In case where AFS is changed, new IAFS Certificate will be issued.
(3) In case where AFS is replaced, “Endorsement of Survey(s) the Record” will be issued and
attached to existing AFS Certificate.
(4) In case where non-party of the convention authorized ClassNK, meanwhile, Document of
Compliance (hereinafter, DOC) will be issued.
16. Installation Registration
(1) Installations Character “AFS” or “AFS·C” will be assigned in case where
(i) AFS Certificate or the DOC is issued by ClassNK. or,
(ii) The SOC issued by ClassNK and the owner requests us to obtain Installations Character.
“Provisional Certificate of Installation Registration” will be issued by responsible Service
Site for new ships and existing ships which do not have Installation Registration, and
Particular Change Certificate will be issued for existing ships, which have Installation
Registration, then “Certificate of Installation Registration” will be issued by Head Office in
due course.
(2) “AFS” means that AFS using non-TBT paint is applied and any TBT paint, if applied
previously, does not exist in existing coatings, and “AFS·C” means that old AFS using TBT
paint remains in existing coatings but covered by sealer coat.
17. Flag requirements for Japanese Domestic ships
(1) During the surveys for domestic ships of 24 meter or more in length, the attending surveyor
will confirm that non-TBT paint is applied as AFS or existing AFS using TBT paint is
covered by sealer coat by document examination.
(2) Therefore, the relevant documents are to be submitted to responsible Service Site in the same
manner as the above 10.(2).
(3) AFS certificate would not be issued for domestic ships, but, Installation Character will be
assigned and “Certificate of Installation Registration” will be issued in accordance with the
above 16.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)

Survey Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2027 / 2028
Fax: +81-3-5226-2029
E-mail: [email protected]