PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- U.S. Coast Guard officers said Wednesday that Haiti's main port is more badly damaged than they first realized, a finding that has created another significant obstacle to relief and reconstruction efforts.

Word of the hazards reached the command Tuesday afternoon, the officers said, prompting Haitian and American authorities to speed a review of the country's provincial ports in a race to find more ways to pour supplies into the capital.

The January 12 earthquake in Haiti caused extensive damage to port facilities in Port au Prince. But with severe limitations on air cargo movements, sealift is now playing a major role in relief efforts, with efforts being made to get port facilities working, or find alternative means of getting cargo on shore. MARAD has contributed two former Hawaii Superferries to the effort along with five RRF vessels. Meantime, demand is being generated for a broad variety of commercial vessels to join the relief armada.

Singapore on Friday acceded to an international eco-friendly shipping convention. It deposited its Instrument of Accession to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The AFS Convention was adopted at the IMO on Oct 5, 2001, and entered into force on Sept 17 last year. When it enters into force for Singapore on March 31 next year, the Republic will join 40 other countries to be a party to the AFS Convention.