BV Withdraws Lifejacket Type Approval

Classification society Bureau Veritas has canceled type approval of the lifejackets associated with the Norwegian Sleipner casualty. Acting as an MCA-nominated body, BV informed MCA that type approval had been withdrawn on January 25. BV also advised the Italian manufacturer of the lifejackets involved to stop manufacture and supply of the jacket, as well as tracing all lot numbers sold. The manufacturer was also requested to advise flag administrations and other classification societies that VY type approval has been withdrawn. The Italian-made Canepa & Campi Artica lifejackets reportedly failed during the Sleipner casualty, leading the Norwegian Maritime Directorate to ban their use on Norwegian vessels. The jackets had been accepted for Norwegian use based on a U.K. MCA Type Approval Certificate.