Liberia issues defective AWG fire hose nozzles notice

Liberia Maritime Authority issued a marine advisory regarding the notice concerning AWG Fire Hose Nozzles.

The advisory was published on 9 February 2024.

The Marine Advisory serves as a notification regarding defective AWG fire hose nozzles, which have been identified as not meeting safety standards. These nozzles, manufactured in Germany, bear the markings "EN15182-1/3 2015" on the cap and "55" inside the orange tube. They were most likely supplied during specific weeks in 2015.

The issue with these nozzles is their inability to withstand the designated working pressure of 16 bar, making them prone to bursting. Such failure could result in severe consequences, including injuries to personnel due to bursting or burns resulting from firefighting equipment malfunction. This safety concern prompted the EU Commission's Safety Gate rapid alert system to issue Alert Number A12/01695/23.

In response to this alert, the manufacturer, AWG Fittings GmbH, issued a safety recall notice on October 5, 2015. The recall emphasizes the urgent need to replace these defective nozzles with compliant alternatives. Notably, incidents have been reported in Norway where these nozzles burst during operation, highlighting the critical nature of the issue.

To address the situation, the Liberian Maritime Authority advises vessel owners, operators, and masters to discontinue the use of these recalled nozzles immediately. Instead, they are urged to contact AWG Fittings GmbH to request replacement nozzles that adhere to SOLAS requirements.

Furthermore, vessel owners and operators are tasked with informing their end-customers about the recall. This includes forwarding the warning letter via registered mail and providing the manufacturer with the necessary contact details for coordination purposes. Confirmation of receipt of the warning letter is requested to ensure effective communication and facilitate the recall process.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):