Exam Question

### Introduction to TBT-Free Antifouling Paints
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) in 2001, which prohibited the use of organotin compounds, specifically Tributyltin (TBT), in antifouling paints from 1st January 2008. TBT was highly effective but caused severe and widespread environmental damage, acting as an endocrine disruptor in marine life. In response, the industry developed several alternative technologies to control marine biofouling. These alternatives primarily rely on biocidal release mechanisms or non-stick surface properties.
### (i) Controlled Depletion Polymer (CDP) Paint
CDP paints are a first-generation TBT-free alternative that functions through the controlled release of biocides from a largely insoluble paint matrix.