Article 2 Definitions

1. ‘anti-fouling system’ means a coating, paint, surface treatment, surface, or device that is used on a ship to control or prevent attachment of unwanted organisms;

2. ‘gross tonnage’ means the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations contained in Annex 1 to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, or any successor Convention;

3. ‘length’ means the length as defined in the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as modified by the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto, or any successor Convention;

4. ‘ship’ means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion vehicles, submersibles, floating craft, fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs) and floating production storage and off-loading units (FPSOs);

5. ‘AFS-Convention’ means the International Convention on the control of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships, adopted on 5 October 2001, irrespective of its entry into force;

6. ‘recognised organisation’ means a body recognised in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 94/57/EC of 22 November 1994 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations ( 8 );

7. ‘AFS-Certificate’ means the certificate issued to ships in conformity with the provisions of Annex 4 to the AFS-Convention or, during the interim period, a certificate issued in accordance with the format laid down in Annex II to this Regulation, when it is issued by the administration of any Member State or by a recognised organisation acting on its behalf;

8. ‘AFS-Declaration’ means a declaration drawn up under the provisions of Annex 4 to the AFS-Convention or, during the interim period, a declaration signed by the owner or the owner's authorised agent and drawn up in accordance with the format laid down in Annex III to this Regulation;

9. ‘European AFS-Statement of Compliance’ means a document recording compliance with Annex 1 to the AFS-Convention, issued by a recognised organisation on behalf of the administration of a Member State;

10. ‘interim period’ means the period beginning on 1 July 2003 and ending on the date of entry into force of the AFS-Convention.