US Coast Guard Alert: Problem with certain kinds of personal flotation device

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 14 November 2012
  • Generated on 25 August 2026
  • IMCA SF 12/12
  • 1 minute read

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has published a Marine Safety Alert regarding certain Mustang Survival Inflatable PFDs with Hammar MA1hydrostatic (HIT) inflation systems which may not inflate and require a new re-arm kit to properly inflate by manual or automatic activation.

This safety alert identifies which products are affected. Certain inflatable personal flotation devices may be subject to delayed or non-inflations.

Further information can be downloaded here.

Latest Safety Flashes:

GPS jamming and spoofing – good practice example

A Member’s vessel in the Red Sea encountered GPS jamming.

Read more
LTI – Shoulder strain when crew member was descending the stairs

A crew member sustained an injury to their shoulder as they were descending a flight of stairs into an ROV hangar.

Read more
Emergency escape hatch found blocked

Emergency escape hatch to the deck could not be opened.

Read more
Crew member sustained hand injury during lifting operations

A crew member sustained a hand injury during a lifting operation involving a main engine cylinder head.

Read more
NOPSEMA: Lifting operations dangerous occurrences and injuries

NOPSEMA has published a safety bulletin relating to lifting operations in the offshore industry.

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.