# Counterfeit EEBDs

**URL:** https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/counterfeit-eebds/510
**Category:** Maritime News
**Created:** [September 25, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/counterfeit-eebds/510 "2008-09-25T19:04:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![ds1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@ds1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ds1)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/counterfeit-eebds/510/1 "2008-09-25T19:04:04Z")

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The USCG just released this press release:\<br\>\<div\>\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]September 19, 2008 Alert 6-08  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]Washington, DC \<span style="font: 10.0px Courier New] \</span\>  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial; min-height: 16.0px]\<strong\> \</strong\>  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial]\<strong\>COUNTERFEIT EMERGENCY ESCAPE BREATHING DEVICES (EEBDs) \</strong\>  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]/ or the manufacturer for verification or replacement.  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]Differentiating factors:  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]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 Arial]material of the bag is present with a button closure. This unit will not automatically activate.  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]Note: Authentic Unitor UNISCAPE 15H EEBDs  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]are not permitted on U.S. flag vessels because  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]they are not National Institute for Occupational  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]Safety and Health certified.  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px]  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]This safety alert is provided for informational  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]purposes only and does not relieve any domestic  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]or international safety, operational or material  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]requirement. Developed and distributed by the  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]Office of Investigations and Analysis, United  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]States Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington,  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]DC.  
\<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial]\*\*\*\*\*\*\* \<div\>\<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;]\<br\>\</span\>\</div\>\</div\>