The USCG just released this press release:<br><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]September 19, 2008 Alert 6-08
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]Washington, DC <span style="font: 10.0px Courier New] </span>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 16.0px]<strong> </strong>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px "luxi-sans-1"]<strong>COUNTERFEIT EMERGENCY ESCAPE BREATHING DEVICES (EEBDs) </strong>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]The U.S. Coast Guard has recently learned that counterfeit Unitor model UNISCAPE 15H EEBD
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs) are being sold to ship operators and placed onboard
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]commercial vessels. The U.S. Coast Guard <strong>strongly encourages</strong> that all vessel owners and
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]operators with EEBDs onboard carefully and thoroughly inspect them for authenticity. If any doubt
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]exists as to the authenticity, they should immediately contact their emergency equipment vendors and
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]/ or the manufacturer for verification or replacement.
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]The number of fake units sold and currently onboard vessels is unknown and could be substantial.
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]The fake reproduction will not fit over an individual’s head and the automatic air release valve will not
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]open. A crisis situation requiring the use of an EEBD will be severely compounded, potentially leading
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]to death, should a crewmember inadvertently rely on a fake reproduction.
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]Differentiating factors:
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]An authentic Unitor UNISCAPE 15H is contained in a shiny PVC bag. When viewed from the front
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]with the instruction icons upside down, the zipper opens from left to right, and at the most left section
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]of the zipper is a two centimeter gap covered by a clear tab that has a button closure.
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]The<strong> fake reproduction </strong>is contained within a <strong>dull canvas-like</strong> material bag. When viewed from the
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]front with the instruction icons upside down, the <strong>zipper opens from</strong> <strong>right to left</strong>, and at the most left
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]section of the zipper there is no opening, although a tab made of what appears to be the same
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]material of the bag is present with a button closure. This unit will not automatically activate.
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]Note: Authentic Unitor UNISCAPE 15H EEBDs
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]are not permitted on U.S. flag vessels because
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]they are not National Institute for Occupational
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]Safety and Health certified.
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"; min-height: 14.0px]
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]This safety alert is provided for informational
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]purposes only and does not relieve any domestic
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]or international safety, operational or material
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]requirement. Developed and distributed by the
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]Office of Investigations and Analysis, United
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]States Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington,
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]DC.
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px "luxi-sans-1"]******* <div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;]<br></span></div></div>