IMO bans use of toxic paints on ships

THE INTERNATIONAL Maritime Organisation (IMO) has announced that its ban on the use of harmful elements in anti-fouling paints will become effective in September this year. Anti-fouling paints are used to coat the bottoms of ships to prevent sealife such as algae and molluscs attaching themselves to the hull thereby slowing down the ship and increasing fuel consumption. These compounds slowly "leach" into the sea water, killing barnacles and other marine life that have attached to the ship. But, according to the organisation, studies have shown that they remain in the water, killing sealife, harming the environment and possibly entering the food chain.