RMI – Marine Safety Advisory No.24-13
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has issued a Marine Safety Advisory No.24-13 regarding a NSI Safety Warning received from Bureau Veritas on Non-original GMDSS batteries as follows:
“NSI has become aware of non-original GMDSS batteries being promoted, sold and installed onboard SOLAS convention vessels for use in GMDSS equipment required by SOLAS.In particular these counterfeit batteries are being promoted, sold and installed for use in Jotronproducts type Tron 40S, Tron SART, Tron SART 20 and Tron TR-20 GMDSS.
The non-original batteries are apparently being manufactured in China, labeled with Chinese textand bearing CCS approval No. CQ07T00007.It should be realized that the use of non-original (replacement) batteries in legally requiredGMDSS equipment on Dutch flag vessels is not allowed, as this is considered an infringement ofthe MED type approval.Original manufacturer batteries, i.e. those indicated on the MED module B certificate of theGMDSS equipment (e.g. EPIRB or SART), shall always be used.Furthermore, non-original (replacement) batteries have been shown to be of inferior quality andthe use of them may result in safety risk and/or the failure of the GMDSS equipment to functionproperly in a distress situation.
Cospas-Sarsat, who are responsible for approving EPIRBs to operate within the Cospas-Sarsatsatellite-system have also confirmed that the use of non-original manufacturer batteries for Tron40S do not comply to Certificate/TAC no. 95 and therefore cannot be considered as a CospasSarsat approved EPIRB.
I urgently request you to bring this information to the attention of your members, crews,surveyors and other relevant employees and parties, and to take the necessary correctivemeasures as/when the occasion arises”
Source: The Republic of the Marshall Islands
