Survitec, Ocenco Team Up to Meet EEBD Replacement Demand

Survitec Group, one of the world’s leading marine safety companies, is now working in partnership with Ocenco to replace thousands of M-20.2 Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs) that are reaching the end of their service life.

When SOLAS amendment regulations II-2/13.3.4 and 13.4.3 came into force on 1 July 2002, all vessels had to be equipped with EEBDs. At the time, one of the most popular choices was the maintenance-free Ocenco M-20.2 EEBD. The 15-year service life on the first wave of products purchased to satisfy SOLAS is approaching, and many will expire in 2017.

To help meet the high demand for replacement units, Survitec and Ocenco have agreed to work together. Globally, Survitec already supply the widest range of life safety products and related services and owns many of the most innovative and reputable brands in the world including RFD, Beaufort, DSB, DBC, SurvitecZodiac, Survitec Survival Craft, Imperial, RFD Toyo, Brude and Crewsaver. The company also has a global footprint with a large customer base and a worldwide distribution network that includes 550 distributors and agents, covering over 2000 ports.

Explained Frank Moffatt, Survitec's Chief Procurement Officer: “Survitec is the logical choice to distribute Ocenco products and replace the many M-20.2 EEBDs that were installed in 2002 in order to comply with SOLAS. Given the sheer number of products involved, we are expecting demand from customers to be very high as the expiry deadline draws near”.

“Many of these ship owners are still using conventional air pressure EEBDs, although they are now expressing interest in switching to Ocenco’s more cost effective maintenance free product. Under the circumstances we would advise all customers to plan ahead and start placing orders in plenty of time.  Supply could be constrained in the inevitable last minute rush towards the 2017 deadline.”

Based in Wisconsin, Ocenco Inc. is a world leader in internationally approved respiratory protection equipment. The Ocenco M-20.2 was, and remains, one of the most popular choices with ship owners because it is maintenance-free over its 15-year service life. It is also one of the world’s smallest compressed oxygen EEBDs. Easily worn on a belt in a confined space, it can be donned in seconds to provide up to 32 minutes of protection. Although more expensive than conventional air pressure EEBDs, the savings on annual servicing and a cylinder hydrotest every fifth year, make the Ocenco product a very attractive proposition.