Azerbaijan approves accession to international ship convention

Azerbaijan's parliament has approved the country's accession to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, a global treaty aimed at preventing the use of environmentally harmful coatings on vessels.

The relevant bill was adopted during an extraordinary session of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan's parliament. Following discussions, lawmakers voted in favour of the measure, paving the way for the country's accession to the convention, local media reports. 

The treaty seeks to reduce the environmental impact of anti-fouling systems used on ships. These coatings are applied to vessel hulls to prevent the accumulation of marine organisms, but can contain substances harmful to marine ecosystems.

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships was signed in London on October 5, 2001, under the framework of the International Maritime Organisation.

By Sabina Mammadli