An antifouling coating composition comprising (A) a silyl ester copolymer containing
constituent units derived from a polymerizable unsaturated carboxylic acid silyl
ester; (B) a carboxylic acid; (C) a bivalent or trivalent metal compound; and (D)
a dehydrating agent. It is preferred that the component (C) be contained in an
amount of 1.2 equivalents or more, in terms of the number of equivalents of metal
as a constituent of the component (C), per equivalent of carboxyl group of the
carboxylic acid (B); that the component (C) be a bivalent metal compound; and that
the component (C) be a compound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting
of zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium and barium. From the antifouling coating composition,
there can be obtained an antifouling coating film which exhibits less cracking
tendency, excellent adherence so as to ensure less peeling tendency and desirably
controlled hydrolysis rate so as to be excellent in antifouling performance, in
particular, antifouling properties in highly fouling environment and long-term
antifouling properties. With respect to the provided antifouling coating composition,
its storage stability is high, its concentration can be increased, the amount of
solvent used therefor can be reduced, and its applicability is high.
