200920 Fake HRU Alert

Fake HRU Alert
MARS Report 200920

Source: UKHMA – HAMMAR press release 16 December 2008

 

 

 

It has recently come to our attention that someone is producing fake copies of our hydrostatic release unit, the Hammar H20. To an untrained eye, the copy is almost identical to the original product, with Hammar’s logo and address on the labels. The fake might look almost like the original product, but there is one very important difference: the copy does not work!

We have tested several of them and not a single one worked properly according to the Solas specification. The fake H20 will definitely not release a life raft or an Epirb.

We see this as a very serious situation. There may be a number of ships at sea currently sailing with fake hydrostatic release units. If any of these ships were to sink, there will definitely be no life rafts or Epirbs that will help to rescue the seafarers in danger.

How can you quickly check that you have the original Hammar H20?
Always purchase your products through approved distributors or authorised service points for liferafts and Epirbs.
Make sure that you receive the Hammar multilingual product manual and a raft label with each unit for liferaft H20 or Hammar marking instruction for Epirb H20 (Figure 1).
If you check on the underside of the Hammar H20 you should be able to find five fabrication marks on all units produced since April 2006. Units produced before that date have only two fabrication marks. (Figure 2)
The serial number and production date can always be verified by contacting CM Hammar at [email protected]
The fabrication mark on the upper side of the unit must always point directly towards the rope. (Figure 3)
Further queries can be addressed to: Jan Calvert, Sales and Marketing Director, email: [email protected] Tel: +46 31 709 65 61, Cell +46 708 49 92 60