Counterfeit Hydrostatic Release

Bob Markle sent the following:

Here are the Chinese HRU pictures. The device was found by MarDustrial in Portland, OR, which we think is better known to us as Mariners Supply. Here's what we found out from Ray Wilson and the local Coast Guard inspector.

This ship is a Greek registered ship M/V TALISMAN loading grain. They brought the units in because the plastic thimbles on the releases had broken and they wanted the units replaced. Ray said that after looking at the units he was basically curious about how they would operate and went ahead and fired one off. The knife didn't have enough force to cut the rope. He tested the second one to see if the first was a fluke and it wasn't. This was the first time they have ever seen them. The units were supposedly less than one year old and their condition after such a short period of service is what peaked his curiosity. As you can see from the pictures, the unit failed to cut through the painter when fired off. They were unable to find any indication of an approval from any administration. Also, anyone taking just a cursory look at these units might think they were Hammars.