A method for applying a fouling-release coating system to a surface, said method comprising the steps of: (a) applying a tie-coat composition to the surface, wherein said tie-coat composition comprises: i) a binder system comprising an epoxy resin; ii) one or more adhesion-promoting agents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-functional polysiloxanes and C 1-4 -alkoxy-functional polysiloxanes; and iii) an amino-silane adduct of the formula I: HMWA-{N -Q-X-Z} p wherein: HMWA-{N -} p is a moiety comprising three or more amino groups, at least some of which are primary or secondary amino groups, wherein each -N - is a secondary or tertiary amine, wherein Y is selected from hydrogen and C 1-4 -alkyl; p is 1-20; -Q- is selected from -C(R 1) 2 -C(R 2) -, -C(=O)-N(R 3)-, -C(R 1) 2 -C(R 1) 2 -C(=O)-O-, - C(R 1) 2 -C(R 1) 2 -C(=O)-N(R 4)- and in which each R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen and C 1-4 -alkyl; and R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-8 -linear or branched alkyl, vinyl, allyl, aryl and aryl-C 1-4 -alkyl; -X- is a linker moiety selected from C 1-6 -alkylene which may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from hydroxyl and C 1 -C 4 alkyl; - -; -NR*-; -O-; -NR*-C(=O)-NR*-; -NR*-C(=O)-; -C(=O)-NR*; -arylene; and combinations thereof, in which R* is selected from H and C 1-6 -alkyl; -Z is a branched or linear organosiloxane moiety having the molecular formula: -CH 2 -[Si(R a) 2 O] q -Si(R a) 3 in which each R a is independently selected from C 1-8 -linear or branched alkyl, vinyl, allyl, aryl, aryl-C 1-4 -alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-6 alkenyloxy and C 3-6 alkylideneaminoxyl, with the proviso that at least one R a is selected from C 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-6 alkenyloxy and C 3-6 -alkylideneaminoxyl; q is an integer from 0-5 inclusive; wherein the weight average molecular weight of the amino-silane adduct of the formula I is in the range of 500 - 20000 g/mol, as measured by the gel permeation chromatography method given in this specification; and (b) subsequently applying a fouling-release top-coat. i) a binder system comprising an epoxy resin; ii) one or more adhesion-promoting agents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-functional polysiloxanes and C 1-4 -alkoxy-functional polysiloxanes; and iii) an amino-silane adduct of the formula I: HMWA-{N -Q-X-Z} p HMWA-{N -} p is a moiety comprising three or more amino groups, at least some of which are primary or secondary amino groups, wherein each -N - is a secondary or tertiary amine, wherein Y is selected from hydrogen and C 1-4 -alkyl; p is 1-20; -Q- is selected from -C(R 1) 2 -C(R 2) -, -C(=O)-N(R 3)-, -C(R 1) 2 -C(R 1) 2 -C(=O)-O-, - C(R 1) 2 -C(R 1) 2 -C(=O)-N(R 4)- and in which each R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen and C 1-4 -alkyl; and R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from hydrogen, C 1-8 -linear or branched alkyl, vinyl, allyl, aryl and aryl-C 1-4 -alkyl; -X- is a linker moiety selected from C 1-6 -alkylene which may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from hydroxyl and C 1 -C 4 alkyl; - -; -NR*-; -O-; -NR*-C(=O)-NR*-; -NR*-C(=O)-; -C(=O)-NR*; -arylene; and combinations thereof, in which R* is selected from H and C 1-6 -alkyl; -Z is a branched or linear organosiloxane moiety having the molecular formula: -CH 2 -[Si(R a) 2 O] q -Si(R a) 3 in which each R a is independently selected from C 1-8 -linear or branched alkyl, vinyl, allyl, aryl, aryl-C 1-4 -alkyl, C 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-6 alkenyloxy and C 3-6 alkylideneaminoxyl, with the proviso that at least one R a is selected from C 1-6 alkoxy, C 3-6 alkenyloxy and C 3-6 -alkylideneaminoxyl; q is an integer from 0-5 inclusive; wherein the weight average molecular weight of the amino-silane adduct of the formula I is in the range of 500 - 20000 g/mol, as measured by the gel permeation chromatography method given in this specification; and (b) subsequently applying a fouling-release top-coat.