Attn: CT Divers-Feds Investigating NESS

[gemdiver]

Hey guys, just wanted to give those of you who have your tanks serviced by New England Ski and Scuba a heads up that they are being investigated by the feds for not properly testing them.

You can get more info by going to the following link:

http://hazmat.dot.gov/rules/69fr-53497.htm

Dive safe!!

 

[michaelp68]

Thank you for the heads-up.

If you find out anything else, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know. You can pm me.

Michael

 

[ScubaDobe]

Same goes here... Thanks for the info.! Mine were just VIP tested there in August.

 

[adshepard]

NE Ski and Scuba is not being investigated for anything to do with scuba tanks. An error was made in the inspection of some commercial sized non-scuba cylinders during a period from sometime in 2003 to April of this year. No error or wrongdoing had anything to do with scuba tanks.

The DOT notice is a general notice they put out to cover their butts when they find a problem. The notice covers any type of cylinder no matter what problem they found.

One other local shop, known to me as Scuba hackS, has purposely called around and stirred up the diving public to get themselves more business. They actually told people that NE Ski and Scuba was not testing at all and just slapping on viz stickers which isn't even the problem with the commercial cylinder testing. They are your local central Connecticut, over-priced shop. Can't stand them.

Anyway the companies that had the commercial non-scuba cylinders that were questionably tested stand behind NE Ski and Scuba and have brought them back to that shop for retesting.

DSDO

Alan

 

[saltywater]

Alan,

You seem to be intent on glossing over what appears to be a very serious issue. The original poster posted a link to a public Notice which is not based on his opinion. But, according to the notice, SCUBA tanks are included in the cylinders that were possibly improperly tested. As quoted below from the DOT notice.

"Under no circumstance should a cylinder described in
this safety advisory be filled, refilled or used for its intended
purpose until it is reinspected and retested by a DOT-authorized retest
facility."

After reading this statement from the DOT, If I'm the guy wearing that tank on my back, I would not have that tank filled. If I were the guy filling tanks, I might keep an eye on the hydro stamps. Fortunately, none of my tanks are affected by that notice.

Your Opinion may differ.

 

[adshepard]

Alan,

You seem to be intent on glossing over what appears to be a very serious issue. ...

Glossing? No just giving you the facts. DOT sends out blanket statements even if they find a problem with any type of cylinder inspection. The problem was with a non-scuba cylinder inspected sometime between 200 and April 2004. That is the fact. DOT does this to cover theri butts and if you'd like to believe it cover yours too.

Your choice. Me I'm satisfied that my five tanks are fine.

DSDO

Alan

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Me I'm satisfied that my five tanks are fine.

DSDO

Alan

The following is a direct quote from the DOT's report on NESS:

Through its investigation of New England Ski and Scuba, RSPA obtained evidence that the company marked and certified an undetermined number of cylinders as properly tested in accordance with the HMR without conducting proper testing of the cylinders. Therefore, all cylinders marked and certified as requalified by New England Ski and Scuba may pose a safety risk to the public and should be considered unsafe for use in hazardous materials service until retested by a DOT-authorized facility. The cylinder types in question are carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, industrial gas cylinders, medical oxygen cylinders, and Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) tanks.

I don't see much in the way of gloss. To the contrary, what I see is a statement that DOT has determined that an unknown number of tanks that NESS claims to have tested were, in fact, marked without being properly tested. Nothing about malfunctioning equipment or anything else appears in the announcement made in the Federal Register.

If your tanks were hydro'd during the period when the equipment was "malfunctioning", might it be a good idea to have them tested again?

If you choose not to do so, please let us know the next time you are diving locally. I'll make sure that I bring a sponge and some baggies to soak up and store whatever will be left of you if you're wrong.

 

[shellbird]

Holy Moley... That sucks. I got a coupon for that place...

 

[Otter]

Same goes here... Thanks for the info.! Mine were just VIP tested there in August.

It seems to be limited ONLY to Hydros and then only to high pressure tanks, including those manufactured under DOT exemptions which have special testing requirements. VIPs are mandated by DOT. By inference, 3000 PSI and lower pressure tanks aren't being investigated.

The more worrisome question is did they not follow proper procedures? or did they not test, but just mark em?

 

[Northeastwrecks]

It seems to be limited ONLY to Hydros and then only to high pressure tanks, including those manufactured under DOT exemptions which have special testing requirements. VIPs are mandated by DOT. By inference, 3000 PSI and lower pressure tanks aren't being investigated.

You've lost me. Nothing in the notice restricts it to HP tanks and VIPs aren't even mentioned. This deals with hydros. To my knowledge, all scuba tanks need to be hydro'd.

The more worrisome question is did they not follow proper procedures? or did they not test, but just mark em?

It isn't clear from the text and the DOT wouldn't clarify.