The Coast Guard issued a reminder for vessel owners and operators, and all mariners, to use only the proper replacement parts for emergency equipment.

The Coast Guard shares a lesson learned with vessel owners operators and others from a recent inspection on emergency equipment with incorrect batteries used in an upright floating lantern concern, causing it to be inoperable.

Always follow specific manufacturer recommendations when replacing batteries or other components of safety equipment. When possible, maintain awareness of counterfeit replacement components and safety equipment at large. The Coast Guard previously reported on the hazards of counterfeit safety products such as emergency escape breathing devices or hand portable fire extinguishers.

View lessons learned 02-14 for examples of inoperable emergency equipment due to improper replacement parts.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.