Kenny Crawford – general manager Maritime Compliance – says the old lifejackets should be replaced as soon as possible with modern foam-filled or inflatable lifejackets and destroyed so they cannot be reused or on-sold.

The manufacture of these lifejackets stopped in the 1980s, but an unknown number are still being used.

“Kapok,” says Crawford, “is a cotton-like fluff that’s no longer used in lifejackets because it naturally loses buoyancy over time and if it gets wet it will absorb water and pull you down. Cotton straps rot over time, even if the lifejacket’s not used, and will tear or break off the lifejacket. The lifejacket will come off in the water.

“Even if these lifejackets are in their original packaging, have never been used and look in perfect condition, replace and destroy them. They are unsafe.”

Crawford says the old lifejackets complied with international rules when they were manufactured, and many carry the old standards ‘S’ logo. But they no longer comply with the modern New Zealand standard for lifejackets.

Trade Me, Coastguard and many other organisations are helping to get rid of the old lifejackets. On Maritime NZ’s advice, Trade Me has removed several old lifejackets from auctions and will continue to do so as they are posted.