Plan ahead for 2021 and order your products early

08/12/2020

With COVID-19 restrictions affecting transportation and BREXIT possibly bringing more delays, we are urging distributors to order product earlier than usual in 2021.

It is important to forward plan when ordering pyrotechnics and other dated, mandated items, to mitigate any possible supply delays due to potential delays in freight and transportation.

The Covid-19 global pandemic has presented many challenges around the world and will continue to affect rules and regulations across country borders and international waters.

In light of the UK Government’s announcement in November 2020 of a second lockdown in the UK, WesCom has reassured our valued partners, distributors and suppliers that it is business as usual.

“We will, of course, adhere to strict advice and guidelines from the local government bodies in each country as well as those laid out by Public Health England and the World Health Organisation to keep everyone safe.”

Meanwhile, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has shared updated guidance on Marine Information Note (MIN) 612 (Amendment 3) about Covid-19 related extensions in UK Flagship safety surveys and safety equipment servicing.

All Surveyors, Recognised Organisations, Certifying Authorities, Authorised Persons, Ship Operators, Ship Owners, Masters, Officers and Crew have been notified that the potential three-month extension on safety surveys and up to a six-month extension on Life-saving equipment came to an end on 16 September 2020.

Any safety equipment that expired after this date – or with an extension date past 16 September 2020 – is required to be replaced or serviced, in line with UK and global regulations.

Previously, there have been difficulties revalidating certificates and potential problems within the supply chain for replacing mandated goods, including pyrotechnic distress signals.

With the new announcement, the industry must review its safety equipment onboard and highlight the need to replace life-saving goods – such as pyrotechnics and liferafts – as well as organising for safety surveys to be undertaken.

There is expected to be an extensive backlog of requests and orders incoming from contacts around the world, and it is therefore imperative that stock is requested at the earliest possible instance. There will be extra demand for replacement WesCom SOLAS pyrotechnic marine distress signals.

It is worth stressing the importance of forward planning for ordering pyrotechnics and other dated, mandated items, to mitigate any possible supply delays in the future.