Overview
ISO 13073-2:2013 - Ships and marine technology - Risk assessment on anti-fouling systems on ships - Part 2 - specifies a marine environmental risk assessment method for anti-fouling systems that intentionally use biocidally active substances. The standard provides a structured, quantitative approach to evaluate environmental exposure and risk during a ship’s service life (and can be adapted for freshwater). It does not prescribe specific toxicity test methods, usage bans, or efficacy-testing procedures.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and exclusions
- Applies to anti-fouling systems on ships using biocidally active substances.
- Excludes application/removal stages, ballast-water treatment systems, fishing gear/aquaculture equipment, and R&D test panels.
- Integration with ISO 13073-1
- Requires prior hazard/risk review of each biocidal substance according to ISO 13073-1. Only systems with substances characterized as “low risk” or “relatively low risk” are generally suitable; substances of “high concern” require special handling.
- Four-component assessment structure
- Review of biocidally active substance risk (per ISO 13073-1)
- Exposure assessment: prepare emission scenarios and determine predicted environmental concentration (PEC)
- Hazard representation: select an appropriate predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC)
- Risk characterization: calculate the PEC/PNEC ratio as the quantitative risk index
- Exposure and emission scenario guidance
- Prepare ship- and environment-specific emission scenarios to estimate release to the marine environment; special attention for freshwater adaptations.
- Risk management outcomes
- Risk categorization supports decisions on use restrictions, mitigation measures, monitoring, or conditional approvals rather than automatic prohibition.
- Reporting
- Annex A lists minimum information required for a risk assessment report; documentation remains applicant property.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 13073-2:2013 is intended for:
- Regulatory bodies and national authorities developing approval frameworks for anti-fouling systems
- Shipowners and shipyards assessing environmental compliance of coatings
- Anti-fouling paint and biocide manufacturers preparing environmental risk dossiers
- Environmental consultants performing PEC/PNEC-based assessments
- Classification societies, port authorities, and industry third parties implementing self-regulation or approval schemes
Practical uses include product environmental assessment for market authorization, informing mitigation/monitoring measures, and harmonizing national approval systems with international conventions such as the IMO AFS Convention.
Related standards and keywords
- Normative reference: ISO 13073-1:2012 (biocidally active substance assessment)
- Relevant keywords: ISO 13073-2:2013, anti-fouling systems, biocidally active substances, marine environmental risk assessment, PEC/PNEC, ships, marine environment protection, exposure assessment, emission scenario, risk characterization.
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