‘Don’t let unprepared safety equipment determine your fate!’
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has received a Safety Alert issued by the US Coast Guard referring to important emergency escape breath devices and emergency life support apparatus information.
Recently while performing several Port State Control examinations Coast Guard Sector HamptonRoads inspectors discovered numerous SABRE Emergency Escape Breath Devices (EEBD) /Emergency Life Support Apparatus (ELSA) in an unprepared status. The “Quick Fire”functionality that puts the EEBD into operation when the bag is opened up and hood is worn wasnot in its “Primed” state. Such a circumstance can have fatal consequences when time is of theessence to escape a hazardous atmosphere.
When purchased or returned from servicing this equipment will have a small removable label viewable through a window on the bag that states ”QUICK FIRE NOT PRIMED ANTI-TAMPER DEVICE AND FITTING INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE”. The unit is not ready.
| Oncedelivered to a vessel a technician or competent ship’s employee should have opened the bottomleft corner flap, attached the “Quick Fire” cord and removed the label. The device will operatecorrectly and begin to supply air to the hood when the flap is properly connected and lateropened. |
With the concern that insufficient preparation of critical life saving equipment could contributeto unintended fatalities, the Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners and operators ofvessels using this or similar devices carefully inspect their own EEBDs/ELSAs ensuring they areready for use.
Routinely confirm that all other safety and firefighting equipment, systems and components aremaintained and serviced as per applicable requirements and ready for proper operation.
USCG also recommends during inspection of this equipment to be aware of the information regarding counterfeit EEBDs reported in two previous safety alerts. You may find all USCG Safety Alerts regarding this equipment attacted in RMI MARINE SAFETY ADVISORY NO. 23 -14
