COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS: how they are affecting the safety of passengers and crew

1. COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS:how they are affecting the safety of passengers and crew

2. Counterfeit, Copied and Non-conforming Life-saving Appliances • Concerns regarding counterfeit, copied and non-conforming ship’s wheel marked life-saving appliances. • Collation of individual ILAMA members’ problems. • Lobbying Flag State Administrations, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) • 2010 paper submitted to IMO outlining life-saving appliances counterfeiting and copying problems – positive response, resulting in further paper into IMO Sub Committee. • IMO expected to issue MSC Circular in 2012. • ILAMA members believe that if IMO regulations were adhered to, proliferation of counterfeit copied and poor quality life-saving appliances would be greatly reduced.

3. Refurbished Life-saving Appliance Products • Life-saving appliance products removed from ships that being scrapped are being refurbished and ending up back in the marketplace, although there is little information available as to where they finish up. • Important questions regarding who is liable in the event of an accident at sea when these products fail?? • This is blatant contravention of the spirit of the ratified IMO instruments. • The concept of the safety of passengers and crew at sea is being seriously compromised.

4. Hydrostatic Release Units Genuine product now has a permanent hologram attached. • Example 1 – HRU produced by a world leader and a quality product • Example 2 – Identical counterfeit, same logo, address and ships wheel approved • Example 3 – Withdrawn • Example 4 – Non compliant

5. Pyrotechnic Man-overboard Returned product tested in manufacturer’s laboratory. • Product produced to deceive customers. • Label contains the genuine manufacturer’s logo, correct name and address, along with terminology and script.

6. Copied, Lifejacket and Lifebuoy Lights • Nearly every product leader of position indicating lights has had their products copied, with the resulting failure to comply with basic requirements of IMO instruments. • The good name of the original design and manufacture is tarnished. All cases of failure should be reported.

7. Counterfeit Emergency Drinking Water Sachet contents did not comply with SOLAS requirements – water reduced to 368 ml instead of 500 ml; sealing arrangements different. A counterfeit product.

8. Pyrotechnic Para Red Flares • Six flares on board a ship transiting Gulf of Aden failed to operate – they contained only white powder. • Label appeared ‘perfect’ . Product had been made obsolete some years previously.

9. Concluding comments • ILAMA members are concerned that the business of producing quality life-saving products is being seriously jeopardized. • Purchasers of LSA should demand best products for their fare paying passengers and crew. • The standard of the product must be confirmed by scrupulous checking of the approval paperwork, testing small quantities of the product and awareness of cheap and poor quality alternatives. PROBLEMS CONCERNING POOR PERFORMANCE SHOULD ALWAYS BE REPORTED TO FLAG ADMINISTRATION

10. Jim Booth ILAMA Permanent Representative at IMO www.ilama.org Email: admin@ilama.org ‘Every fare paying passenger has the right to a dry shod evacuation from a stricken vessel into an approved life-raft or lifeboat which contains approved personal life-saving appliances which conform to the exacting standard demanded by the International Maritime Organisation.’