US Coastguard Alert on Liferafts

Created by doina. Last modified on 2004-01-07 22:43:32
Countries: USA

The USCoast Guard has recently received reports of faulty servicing of several inflatable liferafts which were last serviced by facilities operating under the name "AMPAK" in Baton Rouge, LA, and Panama City, FL. In at least one instance, the liferaft gas cylinder was found empty, and the liferaft would not have worked in an emergency. Others were marked as having been subjected to required tests that were not in fact performed.

Although the liferafts were Coast Guard approved and of several different makes, the AMPAK facilities were not Coast Guard approved to service any of them. Since both AMPAK facilities appear to have since ceased operations, we do not know how many other liferafts may be involved.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that any inflatable liferafts last serviced by the AMPAK facilities in Baton Rouge or Panama City be taken to a Coast Guard approved servicing facility as soon as possible.