SAFE T Y
bit es REPOR T
ABB has signed contracts with Rotterdam Shore Power to engineer and construct what is expected to be the world’s largest shore power system by capacity at the Port of Rotterdam.
At Washington State Ferries, 2026 started with a thud, one ferry each of the first three days of the year were pulled from service for mechanical problems.
History was made in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race when it was won for the first time by a woman. The winning vessel, the 10.4m Chinese-owned Min River, was crewed by its owner, 60-year-old Jiang Lin, and co-skipper Alexis Loison.
Marine Rescue’s Lake Macquarie unit performed more than 594 search and rescue missions, coming in ahead of the Marine Rescue Sydney, State Communications Centre on 493 during a busy year for the volunteer rescue organisation.
With current president and CEO Michael Hansen set to step down in June, Hempel board of directors launches new leadership search.
US naval shipbuilder General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) has begun operating its newest floating dry dock. The 618 by 140foot (188 by 43metre) Atlas was built by Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana.
Aquila Catamarans has launched its first sailboat, the 50 Sail, at the Miami International Boat Show 2026.
Safety recall of flares issued due to spontaneous combustion
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has sent out a warning following a manufacturer recall of nearly 50,000 affected signal flares. The USCG Office of Design and Engineering Standards was notified of a manufacturer recall of the Orion Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signal (also called Orion XLT Skyblazer self-contained red meteor flare) due to three incidents of spontaneous combustion. There were no reported injuries.
Affected flares were manufactured between March 1, 2025, and November 24, 2025, and have expiration dates of August 2028 through April 2029.
As shown in Figures 1-3, the Skyblazer II Red XLT was sold in a retail Kayak/Paddle kit of two signals (Item #769), a retail set of four signals (Item #859), and a commercial bulk pack of 36 signals (Item #855) to liferaft manufacturers and servicing stations.
The company has contacted their retail and commercial customers of the 49,304 affected signals, as well as provided flyers to notify customers entering retail locations. Orion is working with the USCG, the Federal Aviation Administration, and IMANNA Laboratory, Inc. to develop design changes and stricter testing procedures. Orion will contact customers to provide more information on collection/destruction of quarantined products and replacement products.
The USCG Certificate of Approval (COA) 160.066/8/4, dated October 27, 2025, has been withdrawn and is now in a “Former-Do Not Use” status. Once the new design and additional testing have been approved by the USCG, this modified signal will be approved under a new USCG approval number.
Signals manufactured before March 1, 2025, are unaffected and remain safe for use.
The U.S. Coast Guard strongly recommends customers and end users of Orion Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signals:
- Check the item numbers and expiration dates of your Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signals. If the signals are sealed inside liferaft containers, check with your point of purchase for this information.
- Immediately remove from service Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signals (Item # 769/859/855) with expiration dates of August 2028 through April 2029.
- Quarantine all impacted signals and store them in a safe and secure location away from combustible products until further direction is provided by Orion.
34 | ISSUE 115 | MAR 2026 | THE REPORT
Briefings
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