    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 22, 2008]
    [Pages 105-106]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the International Convention on the
    Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships
    January 22, 2008

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to its
    ratification, the International Convention on the Control of Harmful
    Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (the ``Convention'').
        The Convention aims to control the harmful effects of anti-fouling
    systems, which are used on the hulls of ships to prevent the growth of
    marine organisms. These systems are necessary to increase fuel
    efficiency and minimize the transport of hull-borne species; however,
    anti-fouling systems can also have negative effects on the marine
    environment, including when a vessel remains in place for a period of
    time (such as in port).
        To mitigate these effects, the Convention prohibits Parties from
    using organotin-based anti-fouling systems on their ships, and it
    prohibits ships that use such systems from entering Parties' ports,
    shipyards, or offshore terminals. The Convention authorizes controls on
    use of other anti-fouling systems that could be added in the future,
    after a comprehensive review process.
        The Convention was adopted at a Diplomatic Conference of the
    International Maritime Organization in October 2001 and signed by the
    United States on December 12, 2002. The United States played a
    leadership role in the negotiation and development of the Convention.
    With Panama's

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    ratification of the Convention on September 17, 2007, 25 States
    representing over 25 percent of the world's merchant shipping tonnage
    have now ratified the Convention. Therefore, the Convention will enter
    into force on September 17, 2008.
        Organotin-based anti-fouling systems are specifically regulated
    through the Organotin Anti-Fouling Paint Control Act of 1988 (OAPCA), 33
    U.S.C. 2401-2410. New legislation is required to fully implement the
    Convention and will take the form of a complete revision and replacement
    of OAPCA. All interested executive branch agencies support ratification.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to
    the Convention and give its advice and consent to its ratification, with
    the declaration set out in the analysis of Article 16 in the attached
    article-by-article analysis.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     January 22, 2008.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    January 23.