Marine Advisory: 04/2024 - AWG fire hose nozzles Notice

09 February 2024

Marine Advisory: 04/2024

SUBJECT: AWG fire hose nozzles Notice

Dear Shipowner/Operator/Master:

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to inform you of the EU Commission’s Safety Gate rapid alert system issuance of the Alert Number A12/01695/23 for defective AWG fire hose nozzles.

Background

According to the EU notice below affected nozzles are defective and do not comply with the Marine Equipment Directive requirements or the European standard EN 15182-1.

• Country of origin: Germany
• Type HS 10, HS 12, HS 16, HS 20
• They are marked with batch no. “EN15182-1/3 2015” on the nozzle cap and “55” marked inside the orange tube.
• The suspected defective nozzles were most likely supplied during weeks 24 to 37 in 2015.

The EU notice states that the nozzle is not robust enough to withstand working pressure of 16 bar and may burst. As a result, the user may get injured due to bursting or suffer burns due to failed firefighting.

A safety recall notice was issued by manufacturer AWG Fittings GmbH, dated “5 October 2015”, and the EU notice includes pictures on how to identify such nozzles.

Guidance

The Liberian Administration is bringing this to the attention of Vessel Owners/Operators/Masters and Recognized Organizations and recommends ships fitted with such nozzles, to stop using the recalled nozzles immediately and to contact the manufacturer to request the replacement with nozzles compliant with the relevant SOLAS requirements.

For questions regarding this note please contact this Administration’s Regulations and Standards Department at email: regsandstandards@liscr.com or via telephone number +1 703 790 3434.

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[AWG Letter Head]

«FIRMEN_BEZEICHNUNG»

«VORNAME» «NACHNAME»

«STRASSE» «HAUS_NR»

«POSTLEITZAHL» «ORT»

«LAND»

In advance via email to [insert email address of [Date] recipient]

Via registered letter

RECALL: Nozzle bursting under pressure Dual Purpose Nozzle HS 10, HS 12, HS 16, HS 20 marking “EN15182-1/3 2015”, Delivery in weeks 24-37/2015

Dear Sir or Madame,

We refer to our letter as of 5 October 2015 (for the ease of reference once again attached hereto), in which we already informed about a potential safety issue with respect to our

• Dual Purpose Nozzle HS 10, HS 12, HS 16, HS 20 marking “EN15182-1/3 2015” (“Nozzle”).

We have further investigated into the matter because quality and safety have highest priority within AWG Fittings GmbH. These investigations yielded the result that the Nozzle – most likely supplied to you in weeks 24-37/2015 (see in further detail: 2) – could result in a severe risk since the orange-colored plastic tube of it may burst under pressure and thus the whole Nozzle will fail e.g. during firefighting (see in further detail:1). We point out that we have been informed about a current incident in Norway in which this Nozzle has actually burst in seven cases.

As a matter of urgency, all Nozzles have to be replaced by new ones. Please immediately forward this warning letter to your end-customers and also provide us with their contact details, so we can arrange the exchange (see in further detail: 3).

1 Discovered risk

As already described in our letter of 5 October 2015, the orange-colored plastic tube of the Nozzle might burst under pressure. The Nozzle and in particular the orange-colored plastic tube can be seen in Picture 1 without and in Picture 2 with a handle.

Picture 1 Picture 2

Below Pictures 3 and 4 show a burst tube.

P

icture 3

Picture 4

The following potential hazards are currently possible due to bursting of the tube:

• Failure during firefighting attack which could lead to risk for human health and damage to property due to the fire continuing

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• Flooding of the environment in case of pressure despite non-operation which can lead to severe damages in the affected area
• Risk of injury during bursting

2 Affected nozzles

We must recall the dual purpose nozzles HS 10, HS 12, HS 16, HS 20 marking “EN 15182-1/3 2015”, which most likely has been delivered to you in weeks 24-37/2015.

The Nozzle is primarily used onboard of vessels. However, it cannot be excluded that the Nozzle is also used in mobile fire protection on land or for cleaning purposes.

You can identify the respective Nozzle by the following characteristics, all of which must be present:

• marking “EN 15182-1/3 2015” which is shown in Picture 5 and can be found on the black part of the product,
• marking “55” inside the orange tube which is shown in Pictures 6, 7 and
• the logo “A Fitting Connection AWG” which is shown in Picture 8 Picture 5

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Picture 6

Picture 7

Picture 8

3 Next steps

As immediate next steps, it is imperative that you promptly forward this warning letter to all end-customers, who received the Nozzle, so we can carry out a comprehensive recall and arrange an adequate replacement or reimbursement.

Please forward this letter immediately to your end-customers by registered mail. In addition, please provide us with the contact details of your customers, so we can get in contact with them for the replacement or reimbursement.

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Please confirm the receipt of this letter immediately by e-mail or written notice to us. Sorry for any inconvenience and please do not hesitate to contact us in case you have any questions. Best regards

Annex: Our letter dated 5 October 2015

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