Marine Notice No 7 of 2023 advises of a safety notice issued by the Dutch Safety Board for rocket parachute flares relating to model L-35 or L-35A manufactured by LECEA Sistemas Pirotécnicos Avanzados, S.A. The manufacturer has also issued a recall notice.
All owners of a Red Rocket Parachute Flare from Pirolec, type L-35/L35A, batch 0525/2021–113 are requested to stop using flares from this batch and replace them. If in doubt, operators should contact the manufacturer at [email protected]
This safety alert follows a fatal incident onboard a Dutch vessel when a flare reportedly exploded prematurely during an attempted launch.
It is important to note that the SOLAS Convention requires no less than 12 rocket parachute flares, complying with the requirements of the Life-Saving Appliances Code, shall be carried and be stowed on or near the navigation bridge.