Arch chemicals urges U.S. to

Arch Chemicals is calling upon the U.S. to join 25 other nations that have ratified the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships. Having secured the minimum passage by 25 nations, the treaty will ban the use of tributyl tins (also known as organotins) as a biocide in marine anti-fouling systems on Sept. 17, 2008 in those countries that have ratified the treaty by that date.
“Simply put, counties adopting this treaty are agreeing to the use of environmentally preferable coating compounds on the hulls of ships using their ports and waters,” said Frank Kicklighter, general manager of Arch’s industrial biocide business. “Those approved compounds include Arch’s copper and zinc Omadine, which we have supplied to the marine paint industry for more than a decade. We believe that a number of other countries, including the U.S. and China, should take a serious look at ratifying and implementing these vital standards in the U.S.”