February 2019

ADVOCATE

In this issue: • New IMI Summer Course Dates Added ... page 2 • Bellingham Marine CEO to Retire in December ... page 2 • Raise the Wage Act of 2019 Introduced to Congress ... page 19

1 Welcome to the February Issue Industry News Summer Course Added!

If you have been waiting for a summer IMM Training Course NOW is your opportunity!

Intermediate Marina Management Course June 23-27, 2019 Fort Lauderdale, Florida must register by March 1st

Bellingham Marine CEO to Retire in eral years, I have focused my energy on develop- ing the next generation. I am confident that we December have the strongest team in our history to lead us forward,” Babbitt said. Everett Babbitt, Bellingham Marine CEO, has an- nounced his retirement effective December 31, Ueberroth shared his appreciation of Everett’s 2019. Following his retirement, he will continue contributions. “We have been extremely fortunate to serve as a director of the company. Joe Uber- to have Everett at the helm of our company for roth, owner and chairman, will take over the role the better part of the last two decades,” Ueberroth of CEO. said. “Having him continue on as a member of our board and available for special projects, provides Everett joined Bellingham Marine in 1984, per- our team with confidence that we will take this forming in a variety of roles until 2004 when he transition in stride.” was named president and CEO. Under his lead- ership, Bellingham Marine became a recognized international leader in marina construction. He Miami 2019: Dammrich Makes his expanded Bellingham’s global reach and tripled Final Miami Keynote annual revenues. NMMA president Thom Dammrich made his final “As with many of my colleagues, I have been in- keynote address at the Miami International Boat credibly fortunate to be able to spend my career Show’s Innovation Breakfast this morning, speak- with Bellingham Marine,” Everett Babbitt said. “I ing about the state of the industry and outlining believe our success is based on our commitment strategic objectives for the association. “People to innovation, building a superior product, serving ask me if this my last Miami show, and I answer, ‘I our clients’ needs and hiring top talent.” certainly hope not,’ ” Dammrich said. “It’s just the last one I have to worry about.” “We have worked hard to attract and retain Dammrich said that this year’s show, when com- the best in the indus- bined with the Miami Yacht Show, puts a combined try. Over the last sev- 1,900 boats on display in Miami. “This is the largest 2 Industry News display of recreational boats in the world,” he said, tional funds to Discover Boating. The association noting that the show will attract about 100,000 has also created a budget to do more research people from 35 countries. “It has an economic im- on how the industry can attract a more compe- pact of $854 million for the region, which is double tent workforce. It has also raised its PAC target to the impact of the Super Bowl.” $500,000 per year from last year’s $250,000 bud- get. Last year was the eighth consecutive year of growth for the U.S. boating industry. “In 2018, Americans Dammrich quoted President Franklin Delano Roo- spent $41 billion on boating,” Dammrich said. sevelt, who once said: “A smooth sea never made “New powerboat sales were up 4 percent last year, a skilled sailor.” and we expect that number to be 3 percent this year. But we are seeing a few cracks in the armor.” “We’ll always be facing challenges,” Dammrich said. “But if we work together and support each other Noting that leading economic indicators such as on this broad range of issues, I believe it will make consumer confidence, GDP growth and unem- the industry healthier in the next decade, with a ployment rates are trending in the correct direc- sustainable profit that every business wants. We tion, Dammrich said there is “lots of opportunity need to speak as one voice. We are strongest when ahead” for the industry. “We expect to see contin- we have a united industry voice.” ued growth this year and possibly until the end of 2021,” he said. “During that slowing period, the low Dammrich then received a standing ovation. point of that slowing will be where we were last summer. Remember, once the economy is grow- Evinrude Makes Major Donation ing, it’s not in recession.” to ABYC to Combat Technician A recent economic impact study found that boat- Shortage ing contributes $170.3 billion a year to the U.S. economy, supports 35,000 marine businesses and Evinrude, the American Boat and Yacht Council employs 511,000 people. “We are a significant part (ABYC) and the National Marine Distributors As- of the outdoor recreation industry, which accounts sociation (NMDA) announced today that Evinrude for 2 percent of GDP each year,” Dammrich said. will donate two million dollars’ worth of Evinrude “By contrast, agriculture or mining account for 1 ETEC G2 3.4L V6 outboard engines to the ABYC percent of GDP.” Foundation supporting next generation marine technician training. The donation, which is the Dammrich then outlined NMMA’s strategic objec- largest of its kind in history, will support students tives going forward, including increasing local and in high schools and colleges across the U.S. and federal lobbying efforts, more research into issues Canada. NMDA will be providing matching funds impacting boating and engaging the industry to to assist schools, as needed, with costs associated become more involved in advocacy. with purchasing test tanks, tools and with shipping outboards. “We plan to go on an advocacy offensive,” Dammrich said. “Our board has allocated signifi- “Recreational boats are becoming increasingly cant additional dollars to our advocacy and com- more integrated which requires technicians to be munications around advocacy. We plan to go on well versed in a multitude of advanced systems,” the offensive on your behalf. Remember, if you’re said Tracy Crocker, senior vice president and gen- not at the table, you’re on the menu.” eral manager, Evinrude. “By donating Evinrude en- gines and our training curriculum, we are provid- The NMMA will also be adding $1 million in addi- Industry News continued on Page 5 3 4 Industry News continued from Page 3 “Technical education and hands-on training need ing the tools necessary to increase the number of our full support so that students can develop their certified professionals trained to service modern, technical abilities and creativity,” said Jeff Wasil, technologically-advanced direct fuel-injection en- engineering manager, Emissions and Regulatory gines. Furthermore, we are maintaining Evinrude’s Development, Evinrude. long-standing commitment to the marine indus- try, while meeting dealer demands for additionally “The donation package and partnership put to- trained and talented employees.” gether by Evinrude, ABYC, and NMDA provides a comprehensive marine technical training pro- Evinrude’s donation includes access to the entire gram, supporting schools and students with the Evinrude training curriculum, including fundamen- tools they need to be successful in this industry.” tals and professional level online courses. Upon successful completion of this curriculum and as- “NMDA’s mission is to advance industry growth by sociated tests, students will have the option to strengthening the supply chain, providing training transition to the certification-level course at Evin- and education, promoting best practices, and fos- rude’s technical training centers. In addition to the tering partnerships with industry stakeholders,” Evinrude training curriculum, highly discounted said Nancy Cueroni, executive director, NMDA. Evinrude outboard engine test tanks and Evinrude “This donation from Evinrude is a historic step in outboard educational service tool packages are support of marine education and we are thrilled available to schools. to partner with Evinrude and ABYC to make this program possible.” ABYC is the premier non-profit member organi- zation that develops global safety standards for To address the marine industry’s need for post- the design, construction, maintenance, and repair secondary technical education, ABYC developed of recreational boats. With the recent publication the Marine League of Schools. ABYC assists of Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology, a these schools in the areas of standards-based comprehensive training program geared toward curriculum development and instructor train- secondary and post-secondary education, ABYC ing/certification to help ensure that the train- has demonstrated its commitment to the growth ing provided is relevant and up-to-date. Mem- of the marine industry and is a natural partner for ber schools are nationwide and held to a high the donation. ABYC will offer this accredited cur- standard due to their affiliation with ABYC. Evin- riculum, which includes textbooks and training rude’s outboard engine and curriculum dona- materials, together with the Evinrude outboards tion is being made available to these schools. and training curriculum to schools. This program gives schools the tools needed to implement a “Our faculty is very excited about the opportunity standards-based curriculum including instructor to access Evinrude’s innovative technology for our guides, presentations, and sample tests. students,” said Ann Avary, director, Skagit Valley College, Center of Excellence for Marine Manufac- “ABYC is focused on addressing the shortage of turing & Technology. “We hope this donation will qualified marine technicians by developing and inspire young people to pursue rewarding careers marketing an accredited technical education pro- in the marine industry and open their eyes to the gram,” said John Adey, president, ABYC. “Evin- many opportunities available to them as marine rude’s donation will provide these students hands- technicians. We’re especially grateful to ABYC for on experience servicing marine engines based on its leadership and work in support of the educa- ABYC’s current curriculum and is a key step in tional mission of the Marine League of Schools, ABYC’s efforts to address the shortage of quali- making this donation and opportunity possible.” fied marine technicians. While ABYC’s curriculum is general in nature, the addition of manufacturer- Interested accredited schools can apply online by specific training enhances the value of the student visiting the ABYC Foundation website at www.aby- to potential employers.” cfoundation.org or contact ABYC for further infor- Industry News continued on Page 6 5 Industry News continued from Page 5 nas with approximately 1,000 boating customers. In most years the area is bustling with boaters, mation. Evinrude and NMDA will also be reaching but last March activity came to a halt after the U.S. out to their dealerships and distributor networks Coast Guard came into the creek to measure the to identify specific schools which would provide the depth and declared the area too shallow to safely most meaningful impacts to local communities. navigate. Two navigational buoys at the mouth

of the creek were removed and diamond-shaped Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Fort white signs that said “Danger-Shoal” were left be- Myers Technical College, Fort Myers, Florida, and hind. Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washing- ton, have already received engines. The remainder It wasn’t just local boaters that were impacted. The of the engines are scheduled to be placed within marinas do repairs for boats from other regions, the next 12-36 months. and there are twelve other businesses that support the boating industry, which rely on the creek be- Marinas Join Public-Private Efforts ing navigable. About 50 jobs are dependent on the to Dredge Neabsco Creek waterway being open to boaters. In addition, the Woodbridge Fire & Rescue Department keeps its When shoaling along Neabsco Creek stopped boat- boat on the Neabsco Creek and responds to emer- ing traffic, marinas found help from the county gencies in nearby Fairfax and Suffolk Counties as and state government. The group formed an LLC well as areas in bordering Maryland. Without open to receive funding and oversee a dredging project, navigation channels emergency response capabili- which began in November 2018. ties were severely limited.

Neabsco Creek in Woodbridge, Virginia, is just south of Washington, D.C., and home to four mari- Industry News continued on Page 7

6 Industry News continued from Page 6 “A lot of developments are older, ‘60s era, and didn’t have obligations and practices for stormwater Seemingly left with no options, the marinas, along ponds that leave the sediment behind,” Hart said. with local and state officials and politicians banded Hart said all the marinas were aware of the shoal- together in a public-private partnership to come ing but were taken by surprise when the Coast up with a solution to get Neabsco Creek dredged Guard just removed the channel markers and and boaters back out on the water. claimed the area dangerous for boating. Increased Shoaling The marinas knew they had to get the message While the waterway is under federal control and out about what was happening and attended sev- therefore should be federally maintained, there eral county board of supervisor and community was no money put into the U.S. Army Corps of En- meetings to talk about the number of businesses gineers budget for dredging the creek. The Corps and jobs impacted and the negative effects to cash did the last dredging in 1999. flow and taxes for the county. Michael Hart, owner of EZ Cruz Marina, said the “We talked with local constituents and tried to get situation on the creek has been getting worse due congressmen involved who could direct us. Prin- to upland development. EZ Cruz, built by Hart’s cipi played a major role,” Hart said. family in 1971, is a full-service, 170-slip facility with a 24-hour fuel dock. With such a long history in the Government Steps Up area, Hart is familiar with the issues and problems One of the leaders of the effort for dredging was on the creek. He said the need for dredging arises Prince William County Supervisor Frank Principi, D- from all the upland runoff debris that comes down Woodbridge. “My role was to help frame the prob- to the creeks and rivers and settles there. lem or tell our story, offer a solution, and persuade others to join in,” Principi said.

The county held a series of three open meetings and held two regular county supervisor meetings with citizen time to gain public input into the dredg- ing issue. In addition, the county did outreach via direct newsletters and email to area boaters and BE PREPARED relied on television, radio and newspaper stories THE HURRICANE WEATHER BASE to get the message out. FROM HYPOWER PROTECTS YOUR INVESTMENT “In short order, we determined a public-private partnership was needed to raise the funds, ob- tain the permits, and operationalize the dredging plan. We lined up the county board of supervisors, house and senate members, the Industrial Devel-  Easily lift the Power Head off in minutes opment Agency, state legislators, and formed a new LLC to receive funds, oversee dredging, and  Remove to safe storage ensure transparency.” location during storm  Be the first back in business A new LLC was formed with a board comprised of representatives from each of the four mari- nas, Hampton’s Landing, EZ Cruz, Pilot House and Neabsco Marina, and from four local civic orga- nizations. The formation of the LLC enabled the A division of HydroHoist Marine Group group to chase down grants and oversee the con- 918.341.6811 Power Pedestal.com Industry News continued on Page 8

HyPower_Ad_WeatherBase_3.625x5.indd 1 10/11/18 3:57 PM7 Industry News continued from Page 7 county, as well as their own funds, to dredge their fairways. tracting for and operation of the dredging project. Waterway Engineering out of Virginia Beach con- Funding came from three main places. A one-time ducted the project surveys and is managing the appropriation from the general revenue fund of overall project and Lake Services of Virginia is do- the county was made in the amount of $750,000. ing the dredging. Dredging was finished by mid- “The county really stepped up and provided the February to meet with state guidelines for avoiding lion share of the funding, legal support and the work during fish spawning season. The contractor equipment needed to dewater the dredged mate- worked six days a week to finish the work in that rial at the landfill,” Principi said. time frame.

The state, which previously had zero dollars set The Future aside for dredging small creeks, was persuaded “What happened in Prince William is happening by the Prince William legislators, area boaters and all over Virginia and the country. The Army Corps businesses, to do a budget amendment to autho- of Engineers and Coast Guard made it clear that rize $2.6 million over the next two fiscal years for there is no federal funding for smaller waterways small creek dredging projects. The grant is admin- and we are prepared to continue to step up to the istered under the Virginia State Ports Authority. plate,” Principi said. Prince William County obtained $250,000 under the first year. The final funding of about $250,000 Because of the lack of federal funds the county came from the four marinas. and businesses intend to keep the same public- private partnership model for future dredging With these funds alone, the main channel would needs, which they anticipate will be required every be dredged to five feet, which was a foot shy of five years. Those involved hope the state will con- the mark required by the Coast Guard for them tinue to see the value of dredging for boater safe- to return to place channel markers. The marinas ty, economic development, jobs and watershed had purchased markers intending to put them in protection and so continue to provide funding. themselves. The LLC will stay in place and the model they used for public outreach will be used again if needed to However, the project got a boost on January 29, advocate for continued appropriation of dredging when the Virginia Port Authority voted to approve funds. $250,000 in additional funding to the dredging project. The extra money is enough to dredge the “We’ll leave the LLC in place. The siltation issue will channel to six feet. All parties anticipate the Coast not go away. We hope the Coast Guard and Corps Guard will resume placement and maintenance of come back to take over their role. It’s still mandat- the navigational markers. The marinas have also ed they maintain it but they are not,” Hart said. been able to use a bit of leftover money from the Hart continued that down the road he feels the stormwater management fees collected by the county should be allocated to projects like this. While he Welcome Aboard said the county and state came through on this issue this time, he’s wary of the future. Bradford Marine Inc. Caloosa Cove Resort & Marina “I have talked to other sena- Caicos Marina & Shipyard Marina Development Partners, LLC tors and people and they know Industry News continued on Page 9

8 Industry News continued from Page 8 ny from a small regional manufacturer to one of North America’s largest floating dock and marina PWC (Prince William County) stormwater isn’t up companies. to speed compared to other areas. Millions of gal- lons of runoff comes through and PWC is behind In 2008, Sullivan Flotation Systems merged with the times with that. It shows. This is a public area, Atlantic Meeco to eventually become Meeco Sulli- with ramps, fuel, and we have to keep it open,” van. In 2018, Tuckahoe Holdings of Richmond, Vir- Hart said. ginia, acquired Meeco Sullivan with a commitment to aggressively grow the business. They have since Meeco Sullivan Announces acquired Wahoo Docks, which supplies steel, tim- Retirement of President and CEO ber and aluminum dock systems. Sullivan, who will continue as a board member, Meeco Sullivan has announced the retirement of was replaced by Peter Ladouceur as president. La- Steve Sullivan, president and CEO. douceur joined the company in November 2017 as division manager and national projects manager. Sullivan has been with the company for 38 years Prior to that, Ladouceur was the COO of J.T. Cleary having begun his career at Sullivan Flotation Sys- Inc., a New York City based civil and marine gen- tems in Warwick, New York, in 1980. He held a va- eral contractor. riety of operational, sales and management posi- tions before becoming president in 1995. Sullivan, with his brother Robert, have grown the compa- Industry News continued on Page 10

9 Industry News continued from Page 9 However, the state is behind others in the North- east that have capped taxes on boats or eliminat- Natural Resources Management Act ed them altogether. “Connecticut just sliced sales Awaits President’s Signature tax for vessels, you have Rhode Island and New Hampshire with no sales tax, and we really want The U. S. Senate passed S. 47, the Natural Resourc- to make the state more competitive to keep your es Management Act, sending it to the President’s business here,” Yranski said. desk for signature. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) ad- The group is beefing up its advocacy team, adding dresses various programs, projects, activities and three to its Washington, D.C., location and two re- studies for management and conservation of nat- gional managers to take on such issues as tariffs, ural resources on federal lands. invasive species and fuel policy.

The legislation continues funding of the Land and The NMMA is adding three to its Washington, D.C., Water Conservation Fund, supports enhanced team, and has also named Lee Gatts as policy and operations at national parks wilderness areas, engagement manager focusing on the Southeast. rivers, historic sites and other conservation and A Great Lakes manager will come on board next recreation areas, addresses wildland fire opera- month, Gatts said. tions and search and recovery missions, and much more. Gatts will focus on such issues as Everglades res- toration, and his Great Lakes counterpart will be According to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, invested in invasive species legislation and other which fully supported the bill, the outdoor recre- issues affecting the region. ation economy accounts for $734 billion in output for the U.S. economy, supporting 4.5 million direct The NMMA made significant progress on its legis- jobs and $887 billion in consumer spending. lative efforts last year, Yranski said, as various fac- ets of the industry came together and spoke with a For more information, click here. unified voice and message. That was also done by connecting legislators with marine business own- NMMA Strengthens Its Legislative ers in various districts so they could see first-hand the impact the marine industry has on their con- Presence stituent and in the local economy, Yranski said.

Massachusetts has been a leader on titling legisla- Jamy Madeja, legal counsel and government rela- tion but has been left behind in its boat tax legisla- tions adviser to the Massachusetts Marine Trades tion. Association, outlined state issues starting with workforce development and sales taxes on boats. Instead of a “patchwork of laws,” the National Ma- rine Manufacturers Association would like to see “We are the only state in the region that still taxes states follow the lead of Massachusetts so there boats at full sales tax,” Madeja said. “We want our is blanket titling, said Libby Yranski, state govern- jobs back. We lost, I would guess, tens of thou- ment relations director for the NMMA, at a legisla- sands, if not more than that, to Rhode Island over- tive briefing during the New England Boat Show night practically when they repealed their sales tax on Thursday. on boats.”

“Some states don’t have titling, so when you buy a Dredging is another issue that needs local atten- used vessel, you don’t know whether it was totaled tion. “It’s like not plowing your highways” after a or stolen,” said Yranski, outlining national and re- big snow, Madeja said. “You have to do it if you gional legislative priorities for the NMMA. want commerce. If you didn’t plow your highways,

Industry News continued on Page 11

10 Industry News continued from Page 10 cial projects and activities to promote sustainable recreational fishing and boating conducted within the businesses would go berserk. Not dredging is federal marine waters, including national marine like not plowing your highways.” sanctuaries. The final topic addressed was climate change. “Respectfully, we don’t care why there’s climate John Armor, Director of National Marine Sanctuar- change,” Madeja said. “That is not this organiza- ies for NOAA, Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Admin- tion. We don’t look backward to see how did we istrator for Regulatory Programs for NOAA, and get here. We look forward to, what do we do next?” Frank Peterson, President and CEO of RBFF signed the MOA at a ceremony during the Miami Inter- NOAA, Recreational Boat national Boat Show, and were joined on stage by and Fishing Community Sign Thom Dammrich, President of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and Glenn Memorandum of Agreement Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). During an event at the 2019 Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show, the National Oce- “Recreational fishermen are some of our Nation’s anic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and most important conservationists. NOAA is ex- representatives of the recreational boating and cited about our continued collaboration with the fishing community – led by the Recreational Boat- recreational sector and the growing support for ing & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) – signed a Memo- outdoor recreation as a driver of our Nation’s Blue randum of Agreement (MOA), which seeks to de- Economy,” said RDML Timothy Gallaudet, Acting velop and expand a framework of cooperation Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At- for planning and implementing mutually benefi- Industry News continued on Page 12

11 Industry News continued from Page 11 Thom Dammrich, President of NMMA. “Anglers mosphere and Acting NOAA Administrator. “This and boaters are some of our country’s foremost agreement will strengthen the partnership with conservationists, and we thank NOAA for working NOAA, ensuring that sustainable recreational fish- hand-in-hand with us to responsibly expand ac- ing and boating continue to benefit coastal com- cess to recreational saltwater fishing.” munities and enrich the lives of millions of Ameri- cans.” E15’s Troubled Timeline; Clean Marina Successes “We are thrilled to enter this MOA with NOAA and the fishing and boating industry to increase an- The government shutdown could affect the EPA’s gler recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) rollout of year-round E15 sales. Also, Ohio and efforts that will allow recreation opportunities for Maryland earn their stripes for clean marina facili- children, youth and families,” said RBFF President ties and practices. Frank Peterson. “This partnership will not only help improve fishing and boating experiences overall, President Trump’s decision to allow year-round but also support the conservation of our marine E15 sales, thereby putting at risk the nation’s boat- aquatic resources. It will also help us meet our 60 ers and millions of other small-engine owners, in 60 goal to grow participation, which benefits the may be tripped up by the partial government shut- entire industry.” down. My smirk is probably obvious.

“Recreational boating and fishing are not just criti- The Environmental Protection Agency had an- cal economic drivers that support hundreds of nounced a target date of May to issue the final thousands of domestic jobs, they are also cher- ished pastimes for millions of Americans,” said Industry News continued on Page 12

12 Industry News continued from Page 11 noted: “If you start getting in beyond these two weeks, then it does begin to ramp up the pressure rule allowing 15 percent ethanol blends to be sold because there won’t be people there to work on all year. Currently, E15 can only be sold during the this stuff.” summer months. Sucking up to the farm and etha- nol producers lobby, the administration last Octo- We’re now past two weeks, with no end to the ber directed EPA to engage in the required rule- shutdown in sight. making process to waive the summertime “Reid vapor pressure” requirements. (Reid vapor pres- Another game-changing probability: Argyropoulos sure is a measure of gasoline’s volatility.) believes that, once issued, the EPA’s E15 ruling will be legally challenged. Opponents in the refining But the government shutdown has EPA working industry will question whether the EPA even has with a skeleton staff, according to a report from the legal authority to provide an RVP waiver or Reuters. “This is a priority for both President whether Congress must be the body to do so. Trump and acting administrator Andrew Wheeler,” EPA spokesperson Michael Abboud told the news Even the Renewable Fuels Association acknowl- service. “The ongoing partial shutdown will not im- edges the problem. “From the outset,” RFA presi- pede EPA’s ability to keep to our deadline.” dent Geoff Cooper told Bloomberg, “the EPA gave itself very little wiggle room to complete the year- Not so fast! round E15 rulemaking before summer, so the shutdown is making a tight timeline even tighter.” There are two considerations EPA may not want to talk about. For one, experts are seeing that despite So while the shutdown is nothing more than politi- EPA’s schedule, which is considered ambitious, the cians total failure to do the jobs we’re paying them shutdown compounds difficulties in meeting the to do, this result for EPA does make me smile. And schedule whether the agency admits it or not. no matter what happens at EPA or in the courts, it’s likely the boating industry gains more time to Indeed, Bloomberg recently reported that Paul push for necessary and meaningful education, no- Argyropoulos, president of Policy Nexus Advisors tifications and warnings that can prevent the dan- and a former senior policy adviser for the EPA, ger and problems related to misfueling.

13 Clean Marina & Environmental News

Ohio, Maryland Clean Marinas Permit for Discharge from Marinas and Boatyards.

A well-earned shout-out goes to the Ohio and Mary- California Free Oil Spill Response land Clean Marina programs for a successful 2018. Seminars In Ohio, the program recertified 11 marinas and Marinas and yacht clubs are invited to four free certified one that received platinum status under a seminars in Northern and Southern California that newly created tiered certification program. Mean- present oil spill response resource information. while, the Clean Boater Pledge was signed by 347 The seminars will cover information on: more boaters last year under the Ohio Clean Boat- er Program. The program makes boosts awareness • California’s oil spill response structure of the environmental impact of boating activities. • Office of Spill Prevention and Response Equip- ment Grants The Ohio staff also held eight workshops and train- • Third party claim process ing seminars that reached 9,070 people. And for • General information on oil spill kits for boat- marinas and boatyards, new guidance was rolled ing facilities out on boat wash-water to coincide with the state’s • California’s new Marinas and Yacht Clubs Spill new requirements for marinas to treat pressure- Response Communication Packet wash wastewater. • Tools and resources available to increase communication capabilities between boating The Ohio Marina Conference is slated for Feb. 20 facilities and the Office of Emergency Services at the Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton. The day during an oil spill. will feature educational presentations by experts on topics requested by area marinas. Key presenters include: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks Division In Maryland, the Clean Marina Initiative closed of Boating and Waterways and California Coastal out the year recertifying seven marinas that met Commission’s Boating Clean and Green Program. regulatory requirements and environmental best practices. This renewed their Clean Marina certifi- You MUST REGISTER to attend. (First come first cations for another three years. serve, maximum capacity 40 people per training). For Maryland marinas that aren’t yet certified, the BAY AREA & DELTA program announced its annual workshops, which Date & Time: Thursday, March 14, 9:30AM - 12:30PM includes tours of marinas and presentations about Location: Martin Luther King Shoreline Center, current topics. They are scheduled for Feb. 7 in Rock 7250 Doolittle Drive, Oakland, CA 94621 Hall, Feb. 12 in Solomons and Feb. 14 in Annapolis. Parking: Free parking available at the facility. Registration Deadline: March 11, 2019 Finally, the Maryland Clean Marina program is- Registration: Call Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or sued a reminder that winter is a good time to re- at [email protected]. view and update Occupational Safety and Health See the flyer for further information. Administration safety data sheets for chemicals that staff uses; the review should be documented and kept on file. It’s also a good time to organize Clean Marina & Environmental News continued on Page 15 permits, plans and records, especially the General 14 Clean Marina & Environmental News continued from Page 14

SAN DIEGO Date & Time: Friday, April 26, 9:30AM - 12:30PM Location: US Coast Guard Sector San Diego’s Train- ing, Center 2710 N. Harbo Drive (Conference Room), San Diego, CA 92101 Parking: Free parking available at the facility. Registration Deadline: April 22, 2019 RRegistration: Call Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or at [email protected]. See the flyer for further information

LOS ANGELES Lake Nicaragua is the largest drinking-water reservoir Date & Time: Friday, May 3, 9:30AM - 12:30PM in Central America and is home to fish species key to Location: Dockweiler Youth Center, 12505 Vista del evolutionary science. Mar, Playa de Rey, CA 90293 well as land expropriation and the rights to natural Parking: Free parking available at the facility. resources found along the canal route. Registration Deadline: April 29, 2019 Registration: Call Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or The Nicaraguan government says that the US$40- at [email protected]. billion project will boost economic growth in the See the flyer for further information. country — the second-poorest nation in the Amer- icas — from 4.5% in 2013 to 14.6% in 2016. No eco- LAKE TAHOE nomic or environmental feasibility studies have yet Date & Time: Wednesday, June 5th, 9:30AM - 12:30PM been revealed to the public. Nicaragua has not so- Location: South Lake Tahoe Yacht Club, 589 Tahoe licited its own environmental impact assessment Keys Blvd, Suite E2, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 and will rely instead on a study commissioned by Parking: Free parking available at the facility. the HKND. The company has no obligation to re- Registration Deadline: May 31, 2019 veal the results to the Nicaraguan public. Registration: Call Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or at [email protected]. In our view, this canal could create an environmen- See the flyer for further information. tal disaster in Nicaragua and beyond. The excava- tion of hundreds of kilometres from coast to coast, Register now by emailing Vivian Matuk at vmatuk@ traversing Lake Nicaragua, the largest drinking- coastal.ca.gov or by calling (415) 904-6905. water reservoir in the region, will destroy around 400,000 hectares of rainforests and wetlands. Conservation: Nicaragua Canal Could Wreak Environmental Ruin The accompanying development could imperil sur- rounding ecosystems. Some 240 kilometres north of By: Axel Meyer the most likely route of the canal lies the Bosawas Bio- sphere Reserve — 2 million hectares of tropical forest Last June, the Nicaraguan government granted a that is the last refuge of many disappearing species concession to a Hong Kong company to build a canal (see ‘Nicaragua carve-up’). Less than 115 kilometres connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south is the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, with through the Caribbean Sea. The HK Nicaragua Canal more than 318,000 hectares of tropical dry forest. Development Investment Company (operating as Worse still, the probable canal route cuts through the HKND Group) signed a 50-year lease, renewable for northern sector of the Cerro Silva Natural Reserve. another 50 years. It plans to break ground in Decem- ber after spending this year establishing a route and Expand conducting feasibility studies. Included in the con- The project threatens multiple autonomous indig- cession are the rights to build and operate industrial Clean Marina & Environmental News continued on Page 16 centres, airports, a rail system and oil pipelines, as 15 Clean Marina & Environmental News continued from Page 15 ed such plans from being realized. enous communities such as the Rama, Garifuna, The most likely route1 of the HKND›s canal is 286 Mayangna, Miskitu and Ulwa, and some of the most kilometres long and would cut an approximately fragile, pristine and scientifically important marine, ter- 90-kilometre swathe across Lake Nicaragua, re- restrial and lacustrine ecosystems in Central America. quiring a major transformation of the lake bed and local rivers. To rival the expanded Panama Canal An international community of conservationists, (slated for completion in 2015) by accommodating scientists and sociologists needs to join the con- ships of up to 400,000 tonnes, the proposed Ni- cerned citizens and researchers of Nicaragua in caraguan waterway will be 27.6 metres deep, and demanding two things: first, independent assess- the HKND has claimed that it may be an implau- ments of the repercussions of this mega-project; sible 520 metres wide. Lake Nicaragua, however, and second, that the Nicaraguan government halt has an average depth of only 15 metres. The ex- the project should the assessments confirm fears tensive dredging required would dump millions of that this canal will yield more losses than gains for tonnes of sludge either into other parts of the lake the region’s natural resources, indigenous com- or on to nearby land. Either way, the sludge will munities and biodiversity. probably end up as damaging sedimentation.

Lake Nicaragua would also serve as the res- ervoir for the canal's lock system, requiring dams to be constructed in an area of fre- quent seismic activity, which would increase the risk of local water shortages and flood- ing. The lake would probably suffer from salt infiltration in the lock zones, as in locks of the Panama Canal. This would transform a free-flowing freshwater ecosystem into an artificial slack-water reservoir combined with salt water. Declining populations of na- tive aquatic fauna such as euryhaline bull sharks, sawfish and tarpon, important for sport fishing and tourism, could also suffer.

Changes in chemical composition and dis- ruptions to dissolved oxygen levels in the water from pollutants and construction could harm numerous populations of fresh- water and marine fish found nowhere else in the world3. Boat wakes and dredging could weaken and denude the shoreline of rivers leading inland from the new ports on both coasts4. This could affect the rivers Es- condido, Rama and Oyate on the Atlantic side, and At what price? Las Lajas and Brito on the Pacific side. Many have dreamed of a canal through Nicaragua — from the Spanish conquistadors to Napoleon III. Invasive species from container bilge water are The US industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Unit- another concern. The arrival of non-native fish can ed States and the United Kingdom all had plans have catastrophic results, as demonstrated by the for such a canal by the mid-1800s, well before the dramatic decline in Lake Nicaragua’s cichlid fish pop- Panama Canal was completed in 1914. Engineer- ulation since the introduction of African tilapia in the ing challenges, projected costs and, more recently, competition with the Panama Canal, have prevent- Clean Marina & Environmental News continued on Page 17 16 Clean Marina & Environmental News continued from Page 16 chaeological sites along the route of the canal will be in danger too. This upheaval could reignite the civil 1980s5. Cichlids are central to evolutionary research. violence that has long blighted the region. The situ- Ecology and genetics studies over four decades have ation is already tense as outsiders invade ancestral resulted in tens of publications involving research- lands with cattle and carry out illegal logging. ers from more than a dozen countries. One study, for example, revealed that in less than 10,000 years, Might there be an economically, geographically and several species of cichlid evolved from one popula- politically feasible route for the proposed canal, rail- tion in the Apoyo Lagoon, a crater lake close to Lake way and oil pipeline that would entail significantly Nicaragua. reduced risk? The general consensus in Nicaragua is no. Inhabitants — of all species — with ancient Other vulnerable ecosystems in the Cerro Silva–Indio ties to the land will be uprooted regardless. Maiz–La Selva Corridor, such as the biodiversity-rich wetlands of San Miguelito and Bluefields, will -suf International action fer from dredging, sedimentation, invasive species, The contract for an interoceanic canal in Nica- emissions and other pollution. Shipping and the con- ragua represents a classic example of the chal- struction and operation of deepwater ports8 on the lenges faced by a developing country in balancing Atlantic and Pacific coasts will affect the nesting and economic growth and environmental protection. egg-laying habitats of several endangered sea turtles More sustainable ways to raise revenue and em- and threaten coral reefs and mangroves. ployment from Lake Nicaragua could include ex- panded irrigation, tourism and aquaculture. The On land, animal populations will be artificially con- population of Nicaragua is expected to grow by fined to territories carved out by the canal’s infra- 37% by 2050, so water shortages and pressure structure and accompanying projects, disrupting on natural resources are already set to increase, migration patterns, connectivity and ecological limiting sustainable growth and public welfare. In dynamics. Already, the extraordinary concentra- preparation for a future of climate change, food tions of endemic species in the Mesoamerican insecurity and biodiversity loss, Nicaragua must Biological Corridor are experiencing rapid habitat establish long-term measures for the protection of loss. This crucial biodiversity hotspot is a conser- its environment, not sacrifice itself to speculators. vation system established in 1997 by Mexico and the countries of Central America to limit human A loose coalition of more than 30 concerned groups activity and to create a safe migratory corridor be- filed legal complaints with the government of Ni- tween North and South America. caragua in the second half of last year. These in- cluded three communities — the Miskitu and Ulwa Nicaragua’s Indio Maiz and Bosawas biosphere indigenous peoples and the Rama–Kriol territorial reserves — key links in this corridor — sandwich government in the South Atlantic Autonomous Re- possible canal routes. Hundreds of thousands of gion — arguing that the canal concession violates hectares of the forests and wetlands would be their land rights and legal autonomy (see go.na- cleared for the canal, destroying the habitats and ture.com/ttshoc). These legal petitions were over- food sources of already endangered species such ridden by the National Assembly in December. as the Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii)9, the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), the harpy eagle (Harpia Swift and decisive international action is called for. harpyja) and the jaguar (Panthera onca), a creature The Nicaraguan Academy of Sciences (of which of mystical importance to Mesoamerican cultures. one of us, J.A.H.-P., is president) is coordinating efforts with the InterAmerican Network of Acad- “Inhabitants of all species with ancient ties to the emies of Sciences to carry out an independent land will be uprooted.” impact assessment. We need more conservation groups and social organizations to lend their ex- The social, economic, cultural and environmental pertise and funds if we are to prevent the tragic costs of population resettlement are expected to be devastation of indigenous communities along with enormous. Hundreds of villages will have to be evac- terrestrial, marine and freshwater biodiversity and uated and the indigenous inhabitants relocated. Ar- resources in Central America. 17 Become a Certified Marina Manager (CMM) or Certified Marina Operator (CMO)

CMM/CMO Certified Marina Managers (CMM) and Certified Marina Operators (CMO) are marina professionals who have completed an extensive training and certification process through the globally recognized International Marina Institute (IMI) and embrace the continuance of education and training for themselves and those who work within the marina industry. How do I become a CMM or CMO? Step 1

Attend the Intermediate Marina Management Course (IMM). This course focuses on marina operations, policies, and procedures. Marina-man-agement pros offer their expert thinking about business issues and challenges throughout the industry.

Topics include marina-law risk and liabilities, fire and emergency-response planning, environmental management, health and safety compliance, and personal self improvement skills

*Must have one year of marina management experience to attend.

Step 2

Attend the Advance Marina Management Course (AMM). Through small groups, interactive workshops, and specific case studies, the AMM course examines such topics as profit-center management, regulations and permit-ting, operations, marina law, human resource management, risk management and loss control, improving the quality and value of services, policy and procedure manuals, business strategy and financial management, marketing, promotion, and pricing.

The AMM offers its graduates a national and international business perspec-tive on management issues, and a long-term network of international con-tacts to rely on in the future.

*Must have three years of marina management experience and attended IMM Course. Step 3

Upon completion of the IMM and AMM courses you then apply for the certification that you qualify for, CMM or CMO.

10 18 Legislation & By Eric Kretsch Partnerships

This week, I’d like to update you about a bill recent- • Gradually raise the federal minimum wage ly introduced into the Senate and a similarly in the from $7.25 to $15 over the next six years to House. The bill entitled Raise the Wage Act of 2019 lift millions of workers out of poverty, stimu- will gradually raise the federal minimum wage. late local economies, and restore the value of minimum wage; Please read the below article from the National • Index future increases in the federal mini- Small Business Association and if you have com- mum wage to median wage growth to en- ments concerns or questions, please reach out to sure the value of minimum wage does not me at [email protected]. once again erode over time; Raise the Wage Act of 2019 • Guarantees tipped workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by repealing Introduced the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which will ensure consistent, livable pay; Source: National Small Business Association • Guarantees teen workers are paid at least On Jan. 16, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. the full federal minimum wage by repealing Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Chairman of the Committee the rarely used subminimum wage for youth on Education and Labor, joined House and Sen- workers; and ate leadership—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- • End subminimum wage certificates for indi- Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer viduals with disabilities to provide opportuni- (D-N.Y.)—to introduce the Raise the Wage Act of ties for individuals with disabilities to be com- 2019. House Democrats introduced the legislation petitively employed, taxpaying citizens and (H.R. 582) with 196 co-sponsors, while the Senate participate more fully in their communities. companion (S. 150) measure has 31 Democratic co-sponsors. Currently, there are just three states with a mini- mum wage below $7.25, while four others have For nearly ten years, from September 1, 1997 no minimum-wage law. Meanwhile, the District through July 23, 2007, the federal minimum wage of Columbia and 29 states have a minimum wage was $5.15 per hour. Three times in the following higher than the federal minimum wage. However, two years, the minimum wage rose, settling in at none currently have a minimum wage of $15/hr. $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009. The minimum New York has enacted legislation to increase mini- wage has remained $7.25 since then. mum wage until the rate reaches $15 minimum wage and $10 tipped wage. The bills would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024, index future minimum wage in- In 2017, over a half-million workers received the creases to median wage growth and ensure all federal minimum wage, and another 1.8 million workers are paid at least the full federal minimum workers made below that, according to the Bureau wage by phasing out the subminimum wages for of Labor Statistics. tipped workers, youth workers and workers with disabilities. Even if the proposal passes through the Democrat- ic-controlled House, it will likely fail in the Repub- According to the lawmakers, the Raise the Wage lican-held Senate. However, the new House Dem- Act of 2019 would: Legislation & Partnerships continued on Page 20 19 Legislation & Partnerships continued from Page 19 worked on this cycle. In the Senate, that means that the bill will pass without needing floor time through ocratic majority sees the measure as a message a procedure that expedites voting on bills that are that it wants to lift low-wage workers and boost noncontroversial. The House has a similar process. the economy – and an effort to focus on its policy In addition, there will be a strong push to pass infra- priorities as the new Congress gets underway. structure, higher education, and privacy legislation. These will be difficult and will require multiple hear- Congressional Climate Report ings and a lot of advocacy. Our job this year will be to monitor the progress on the difficult bills and iden- By Jason Ortega, LobbyIt.com tify bills that are likely to pass without opposition.

The month of January was dominated by the shut- During the month of January, the Lobbyit team went down. Beyond the real-life impacts to the million to the annual boat show and board meeting to up- or so federal workers and contractors that went date leadership about the work that we’ve been without pay, the shutdown had ripple effects doing over the past year and provide an outlook throughout DC that are still being felt today. on the new Congressional session. The legislative committee approved engaging NWWN to deter- As of now, another shutdown has been averted and mine whether a partnership would be productive the hope is that for the remainder of the two-year ses- and mutually beneficial. We also informed the AMI sion, the tactic of shutdown politics won’t come into team about the PARTNERs act which would facilitate play again. The impacts of the shutdown are still be- apprenticeships and pipeline efforts by connecting ing felt as Congress is almost a month behind sched- small businesses and education institutions. ule and the impacted agencies, especially the IRS, are struggling to get back on track after falling behind. We reached out to the sponsoring office, Congress- In the House, things are more noticeably behind be- woman Suzanne Bonamici’s (D-OR) and obtained cause of the transition of power from the Republicans the latest text of the bill prior to her reintroducing to the Democrats. Committees have just been final- it in late January. ized and only over the past couple weeks have hear- ings begun in earnest. Most committees have yet to In February, we will be working with the AMI team identify the priorities they will be pursuing, partially to draft a letter of support for the bill and facili- due to the fact that they are still staffing up. tating a conversation between AMI leadership and the NWWN leadership team to discuss opportuni- The shutdown has made it clear that only the most ties to work together this coming year. bipartisan pieces of legislation are likely to get

20 Around The World

Building a Better Boating Highway ing safe harbour, reprovisioning and respite to the smaller cruising boats on their north or south jour- Source: Marine Business neys, as well as offering spectacular coastal scen- ery and tourism attractions for these and the larg- Brett Bolton says more needs to be done to sup- er charter boats seeking out things to see and do port coastal towns along Australia’s east coast whilst cruising in Australia. Although great opportu- boating ‘highway’. nities exist, successive State governments have typ- ically dropped the ball in maintaining safe passage With the majority of Australia’s population base and supporting infrastructure in the regional minor centred in the capital cities, and the political focus ports that were created mostly for the fishing -in quite often also concentrated in these areas, it’s dustry or trade back in the 1970s and 80s. easy to forget about the coastal regional towns that bind the east coast and provide for our most Lack of government policy and funding has meant popular boating motorway in the country. that once navigable river entrances have now silt- ed up making them difficult or dangerous to navi- Not ignoring our friends in Western Australia, South gate. Protective seawalls have deteriorated, and Australia and Tasmania, the boating motorway from the wharf or jetty structures have become dilapi- Melbourne to Cairns sees the majority of private and dated to a point where they are unsafe for public charter boat movements each year, everything from access, or are not sufficiently engineered to se- the sun chasers moving north through winter, to de- curely moor the vessels of today’s size and weight. liveries of new and used boats from the manufactur- ing hub of South-east Queensland, and the annual pil- Uncertainty surrounds NSW grimage of display boats that move between Sydney Just prior to the GFC, Crown Lands NSW got its and the Gold Coast for the premium boat shows of act together with a strategy, policy, funding and a Sanctuary Cove and Sydney International Boat Show. team motivated to improve the NSW minor ports through private public partnerships and head There is also the growing superyacht, luxury cruiser lease tenures that promoted investment, jobs and and game fishing charter boat markets that also move great community outcomes. north during the winter to experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and then south in summer to Batemans Bay Marina on the south coast was the escape the tropical cyclones and to view the spectacu- first cab off the rank with a $60 million waterfront lar New Year Eve fireworks and the wonders of the tourism development proposed for the site. Unfor- Gold Coast waterways, Sydney Harbour and the se- tunately, the GFC changed the financial risk, funding renity of the Pittwater Hawkesbury cruising grounds. model and priorities of the lessor of the time, while at the same time the NSW Independent Commis- If amendments to the Coastal Trading Act legislation sion Against Corruption (ICAC) dragged the broom currently in front of the Federal Senate are passed, through Crown Lands with several heads rolling. Australia could witness a significant increase in su- peryacht charter boats entering our waters to en- Lack of government policy and funding has meant joy the wonders of our countryside, cities and wa- that once navigable river entrances have now silted terways. The result of this will be a shot in the arm up making them difficult or dangerous to navigate. to tourism revenue and the small local businesses such as providores and maintenance services that Since then, Crown Lands has come to a grinding halt support the boats whilst they are in town. with a lack of direction and strategy, and many of its officers are nervous to make decisions in case ICAC Dropping the ball on minor ports pays them a visit. There are examples of head leas- Small coastal regional towns are critical for provid- es taking over ten years to renew, while seaway bar 21 Around the World continued on Page 22 Around the World continued from Page 21 It is imperative that State governments recognise the importance of these towns and the significant dredging is either non-existent or underfunded with opportunities that exist within them. Most of these no long-term strategy in place. More recently there towns suffer high youth unemployment and - stag has been increased noise on strategy and funding; nant economies in comparison to the capital cities. however the deliverables to date have either not With clear strategy, policy and motivation by govern- been seen, undercooked or extremely slow. ment, these coastal towns could thrive and play a sig- nificant role in tourism, business, increased jobs and As a result, private investment in ‘public’ infrastruc- prosperity, not only locally but for the entire country. ture is not possible due to uncertainty around ten- ure and rent payable for the marine business op- erator, and the community has restricted access Have Your Say on New South Wales to the waterways and commercial opportunities Australia Boating Infrastructure that are linked to the marine industry. Source: Marine Business Community drawcards Marinas and town wharves are intrinsic to these The Centre for Maritime Safety, part of Transport coastal regional towns and are often the centrepiece for NSW, wants to hear from boating stakehold- drawcard for the community and visitors to the re- ers and participants about boating infrastructure gion. If you have visited Nelson Bay in NSW or Airlie needs in NSW. Beach in Queensland, you will know the importance and attraction of the local marinas to those commu- To help guide future maritime infrastructure invest- nities. They not only offer the necessary infrastruc- ment decisions, the Centre is running an online survey ture for marine tourism, fishing and trade to offload for participants to provide their input to the process. their passengers and produce, they also provide lei- sure and recreational opportunities for the public to The survey takes around 10 to 20 minutes to com- go boating, dine, walk and play within or alongside plete and anyone who completes the survey has the facilities. The economic benefits and jobs created the chance to win one of three $200 gift cards. by this activity are both direct to these businesses, and indirect to all the upland businesses that sup- For more information visit http://www.marine- port and supply them, and service or maintain the business.com.au. vessels and marine infrastructure.

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Correct Craft CEO in Boating ternational customers decline. That means fewer boats, engines, fish finders, and thousands of Industry: Ending Retaliatory Tariffs additional marine accessories are not being sold with USMCA Ratification which will eventually impact American jobs.

Each year the boating industry gravitates to its big- While most agree there are trade inequities that gest (and sunniest) boat show in Miami to meet need to be fixed; pretty much everyone also agrees and discuss important issues and last week was we are currently in an unendurable position. Last no exception. During numerous board meetings, Fall, I joined Nicole Vasilaros of NMMA in a meet- roundtables and other industry gatherings we ing at the White House where I was able to share worked together to tackle some of our top con- some of the ways our industry is being impacted cerns. And, global trade and tariffs were at the top by the current trade/tariff situation and was told of the list in every meeting. by the White House staff that they know U.S. busi- nesses are currently being negatively impacted Everyone agreed that the ongoing trade war is by tariffs, but they are trying to negotiate a good having a negative effect on the uniquely American long-term deal. recreational boating industry. Along with raw ma- terials and components becoming more expen- As the previous Co-Chair of a Trade Committee sive and difficult to procure, sales to our largest that advised the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, I un- international buyers are down. derstand there are trade issues that clearly need attention. So, I respect the Administration’s effort Put simply, the American boat manufacturing in- to correct trade inequities, but I also want to high- dustry is seeing costs increase while sales to in- light the unintended consequences of that effort.

The U.S. boating industry is being impacted in With BoatU.S. Insurance, three areas of the world:

You’re Not Just A Number... • European Union (EU) – EU retaliatory tariffs “So often in this day and age, on U.S. boats of 25% are significantly hurting customer service representatives our industry’s boat sales in Europe. Unfortu- are indifferent in their dealings with clients over the phone. I was nately, with the EU focusing on BREXIT and extremely satisfied with the helpful the U.S. focusing on both a North American and courteous way my insurance inquiry was handled and want to deal and China, not much seems to be hap- thank you for having people of pening with an EU/U.S. deal. BoatU.S. Member Bruce Fournier aboard this caliber available for your “G’Day” on the Braden River in Florida. insurance customers.” —Bruce Fournier, • China – The U.S. and China seem to be nego- You’re Number One! Bradenton, FL tiating feverishly. Last week President Trump At BoatU.S., you’ll find boating experts with the answers you announced he was willing to move back a need when you call. Our knowledgeable Underwriters not only March deadline for more tariffs if the prog- find the perfect coverage for your boat and boating lifestyle, we’ll work with you to help find ways to save on your premium. ress continues. And, as a Berkshire Hathaway company, you can be sure BoatU.S. will be here each and every time you need us. • Mexico and China – The U.S., Mexico and For a fast, free quote call 1-800-283-2883 Canada have a new agreement, the US-Mex- or apply online at BoatUS.com ico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which was signed by President Trump but still needs

Policies Subject to Limits and Exclusions News from Washington continued on Page 24

Association of Marina Industries.indd 1 1/9/09 4:30:41 PM23 News from Washington continued from Page 23 businesses, lower prices for American consumers, increase the availability of materials and eliminate to be ratified by the U.S. Congress. Unfor- retaliatory tariffs. U.S. workers, consumers, and tunately, the USMCA does not deal with the their families will all be the beneficiaries of this thorniest issue for the boating industry; the commonsense economic decision. Section 232 national defense tariffs applying to steel and aluminum, which was signed by Bill Yeargin is the president and CEO of Correct President Trump and resulted in retaliatory Craft. tariffs on U.S. products that included a 10% tariff on boats. The article in Boating Industry is available here.

With ratification of USMCA on the horizon, there’s NOAA, Recreational Boating an opportunity to address some of our trade im- balances with the added bonuses of restoring and Fishing Community Sign normal market prices for aluminum and steel Memorandum of Agreement and removing retaliatory tariffs on quintessential American industries, like boat building. Though This morning, the National Oceanic and Atmo- these items are not included in USMCA, many in spheric Administration (NOAA) and representa- Congress have indicated that they will review the tives of the recreational boating and fishing com- trilateral agreement in light of these additional tar- munity – led by the Recreational Boating & Fishing iffs that are hurting US businesses. This will create Foundation (RBFF) – signed a Memorandum of a tremendous amount of visibility of the 232 tariffs Agreement (MOA), which seeks to develop and that are hurting our industry and give us a chance expand a framework of cooperation for planning to demonstrate the unintended consequences of and implementing mutually beneficial projects the trade war on our industry and employees. and activities to promote sustainable recreational fishing and boating conducted within federal ma- These actions are not just important for boat build- rine waters, including national marine sanctuaries. ers: they’re critical for the entire marine manufac- turing industry. While the strong domestic market John Armor, Director of National Marine Sanctuar- is currently mitigating losses from dwindling inter- ies for NOAA, Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Admin- national sales, there’s no indication this will last istrator for Regulatory Programs for NOAA, and forever, and regardless of the U.S. demand, U.S. Frank Peterson, President and CEO of RBFF signed manufactures want to support and protect their the MOA at a ceremony during the Miami Inter- investment in global distribution which creates national Boat Show, and were joined on stage by American jobs. And every day this continues, the Thom Dammrich, President of the National Marine more likely we are to cede global market share to Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and Glenn non-American manufacturers which will eventu- Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing ally cost American jobs. Association (ASA).

Our elected officials rely on us for real-time feed- “Recreational fishermen are some of our Nation’s back on how polices are impacting businesses in most important conservationists. NOAA is ex- their communities. As citizens and members of cited about our continued collaboration with the the recreational boating industry, we owe it to our recreational sector and the growing support for workers and their families to speak up before their outdoor recreation as a driver of our Nation’s Blue livelihoods are jeopardized. Economy,” said RDML Timothy Gallaudet, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At- I encourage everyone to convey the same mes- mosphere and Acting NOAA Administrator. “This sage to their elected officials: The time is now to agreement will strengthen the partnership with ratify USMCA while simultaneously removing Sec- NOAA, ensuring that sustainable recreational fish- tion 232 tariffs. This will lower costs for American News from Washington continued on Page 25 24 News from Washington continued from Page 24 Land and Water Conservation Fund – a measure that will responsibly enhance access to recreation- ing and boating continue to benefit coastal com- al fishing on our nation’s public lands and waters munities and enrich the lives of millions of Ameri- – and we thank Senators Lisa Murkowski, Maria cans.” Cantwell, and Joe Manchin for championing this ef- fort and call on the U.S. House to immediately pick “We are thrilled to enter this MOA with NOAA and up, pass, and send this bill to President Trump.” the fishing and boating industry to increase an- gler recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) Vasilaros continued, “Additionally, this legislation efforts that will allow recreation opportunities for incentivizes private investment for maintaining children, youth and families,” said RBFF President and updating public lands and waters and pro- Frank Peterson. “This partnership will not only help vides greater local control for water management improve fishing and boating experiences overall, decisions. The bill also contains key outdoor rec- but also support the conservation of our marine reation provisions that were close to passing last aquatic resources. It will also help us meet our 60 Congress, such as the Every Kid Outdoors Act and in 60 goal to grow participation, which benefits the the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act. entire industry.” “The 116th Congress is charging out of the gate “Recreational boating and fishing are not just criti- to protect and expand outdoor recreation – an cal economic drivers that support hundreds of industry that represents 2.2 percent of U.S. GDP thousands of domestic jobs, they are also cher- and supports 4.5 million American jobs. We look ished pastimes for millions of Americans,” said forward to working with lawmakers to address ad- Thom Dammrich, President of NMMA. “Anglers ditional outdoor recreation priorities in a compre- and boaters are some of our country’s foremost hensive infrastructure bill.” conservationists, and we thank NOAA for working hand-in-hand with us to responsibly expand ac- For more information, please contact Vasilaros at cess to recreational saltwater fishing.” [email protected].

NMMA Applauds Senate Passage of NMMA to Host Its First State Fly-in the Natural Resources Next Month in Florida Management Act NMMA will raise its political advocacy to a new Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved the Natural level on March 20-21, 2019 with the association’s Resources Management Act – which permanently first state political fly-in. To be held in Florida’s reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation state capitol in Tallahassee, the event will focus on Fund – by a vote of 92-8. This legislation will ex- bringing its priorities of conservation, consumer pand conservation efforts and responsible access protection, and infrastructure to decisionmak- to public lands and waters – top recreational boat- ers. Click here to register. ing industry priorities that NMMA, in coordinat- ing with the Outdoor Recreational Roundtable, Woven throughout the meetings with political and worked to secure. business leaders will be the release of our new state and regional economic impact data. Expand- In response, NMMA senior vice president of gov- ing the recreational boating industry’s brand be- ernment relations and legal affairs, Nicole Vasi- fore opinion leaders is an important goal in NM- laros stated, “The Senate’s overwhelming support MA’s Strategic Industry Business Plan. for the Natural Resources Management Act once again proves that conservation and outdoor rec- Voters and business owners carry more political reation are bipartisan, commonsense issues. This sway than any lobbyist. NMMA members Florida critical legislation permanently reauthorizes the fly-in will have immediate impact on key legislation News from Washington continued on Page 26 25 News from Washington continued from Page 25 ban wake surfing in the state by prohibiting boat “plowing,” in which a bow rides high and the boat in 2019, and for coming years. The relationships stays off plane. NMMA is firmly opposed to this built over these two days will be invaluable. measure and is actively working to prevent it from becoming law. • What: NMMA Florida Fly-in • When: 12pm ET on Wednesday, March 20, The bill would also require the development of 2019 – 19pm ET on Thursday, March 21, 2019 regulations to ban wake boats from specific public • Where: Florida Capitol Building, Tallahassee waters, taking into consideration existing opportu- • Register nities for fishing, other boating and predominant use of adjacent lands, as well as scenic beauty and Expanding our presence before state lawmakers existing uses. The regulations would exclude Lake and regulators will be rolled out throughout the Champlain and Lake Memphremagog. country. These events also are an opportunity for those who have yet to attend an American Boat- SB 69 may be the first bill to call for a statewide ing Congress in Washington to get involved in the ban of ballasted boats. Blocking passage of this bill political process in their state. is a top priority for NMMA and the Watersports In- Additional details about the Florida fly-in, includ- dustry Association. For more information, please ing a draft agenda, will be available in the coming contact NMMA vice president for state govern- days. For more information, please contact NMMA ment relations, David Dickerson at ddickerson@ vice president of state government relations, Da- nmma.org. vid Dickerson at [email protected] or NMMA director of state government relations, Libby Yran- ski at [email protected]. NMMA Applauds New Legislation to Reassert Congressional Authority NMMA Sounds the Alarm on on Section 232 Tariffs Vermont Legislation Banning Wake Yesterday, the Trade Security Act – legislation that Surfing would provide Congress with a renewed mandate to review national security related tariffs – was in- Earlier this week, a Vermont State Senator intro- duced legislation (SB 69) that would effectively News from Washington continued on Page 27

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26 News from Washington continued from Page 26 NMMA Celebrates Reintroduction of troduced in both Chambers of Congress. These Bipartisan E15 Consumer Protection bills follow similar measures introduced last week, Bill which would amend the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and are also supported by NMMA. Yesterday, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) and Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA-08), mem- In response, NMMA president, Thom Dammrich bers of the Congressional Boating Caucus, reintro- stated, “We are pleased that lawmakers are tak- duced bipartisan legislation to more clearly define ing a more proactive role in addressing the ongo- and label E15 ethanol blended gasoline at pumps. ing trade war that has hit the recreational boat- The legislation, known as the Consumer Protec- ing industry particularly hard. The introduction of tion and Fuel Transparency Act, would better pro- the Trade Security Act in both Chambers of Con- tect consumers from misfuelling with E15 – a ma- gress represents a much-needed step in protect- jor NMMA advocacy priority that the association ing free and fair trade that is vital for supporting helped spearhead. the economic growth and job creation driven by our nation’s boat manufacturers. The importance “With the EPA working to authorize year-round of trade to our industry cannot be overstated and sales of E15 ahead of the 2019 summer season, we are hopeful this legislation will mitigate the po- the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency tential for additional tit-for-tat tariffs that further Act is needed now more than ever,” said NMMA harm our industry.” president, Thom Dammrich. “Representative Fran- kel and Representative Scott have been tireless Dammrich continued, “However, despite stronger advocates in the effort to protect countless Ameri- Congressional authority on future Section 232 tar- can consumers and 141 million recreational boat- iffs, the Trade Security Act would still leave the cur- ers from the dangers of misfuelling, and we thank rent aluminum, steel, and retaliatory tariffs intact. them for reintroducing this commonsense legisla- Retaliatory tariffs have restricted recreational boat tion. NMMA looks forward to working with both exports to critical markets, including Canada, Mex- leaders to get this bill across the finish line and en- ico, and the European Union – which account for courages all Members of Congress to support this 70 percent of the industry’s annual exports. Elimi- critical measure.” nating these tariffs is the first step to restoring our industry to its full strength. “As we are presented with more choices at the gas pump, it is imperative that American consumers “While we remain encouraged by the initial efforts know exactly what kind of fuel they are putting from this Congress to take a stronger role in ad- into their engines,” said Congressman Scott. “Gas dressing tariffs, we need lawmakers and the ad- pumps today are riddled with confusing labels and ministration to collaborate on long-term compre- fail to adequately warn consumers of the dangers hensive solutions – including eliminating Section of fueling small engine equipment with E15. For 232 tariffs on our allies, removing retaliatory mea- this reason, with the support of Congresswoman sures, and ratifying the US-Mexico-Canada Agree- Frankel, I introduced the Consumer Protection and ment – that will put an end to this counterproduc- Fuel Transparency Act of 2018 to ensure that E15 tive approach. We look forward to working with is more clearly labelled and consumers are made elected officials on both sides of the aisle to bol- better aware of the damages misfueling can cause ster our industry’s contributions to the economy to their vehicles, power equipment and boats. By for years to come.” making fuel pump labels easier to decipher and coordinating public education programs at multi- For more information, please contact NMMA se- ple levels, this legislation can save consumers time nior vice president of government relations and le- and energy at the pumps and avoid headaches gal affairs, Nicole Vasilaros at nvasilaros@nmma. and costs down the road.” org.

News from Washington continued on Page 28 27 News from Washington continued from Page 27 gal affairs, Nicole Vasilaros at nvasilaros@nmma. org. “When families set out for a fun day on America’s waterways, we want them to be safe. Our biparti- san bill helps boaters know what kind of fuel will NMMA Applauds Florida State keep their motors running,” said Rep. Frankel. Lawmakers for Introducing Uniform Titling Bills The Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019 would require more detailed labeling his month, Florida Representative Jayer William- of gas pumps that dispense E15 fuel, or fuel with a son (District 3) and Senator Ed Hooper (District 15% ethanol, 85% gasoline blend. E15 fuel has been 16) introduced companion legislation in the state determined to not be suitable for small engines in legislature to add powerful consumer protections outdoor equipment and non-road products as E15 to Florida’s existing boat titling requirements – can cause corrosion, reduced fuel storage, and improvements that were welcomed by the rec- less engine lubrication resulting in engines to run reational boating industry. The legislation is sup- hotter. Examples of impacted equipment include ported by NMMA, the National Association of State items such as lawn mowers, weed eaters, genera- Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), BoatUS and tors, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicle (ATVs), and other boating interests. boats, among others. E15 can also cause issues for vehicles, especially those manufactured before Strong, uniform titling laws provide critical protec- 2001. tions to the entire boating community – including For more information, please contact NMMA se- News from Washington continued on Page 29 nior vice president of government relations and le-

28 News from Washington continued from Page 28 NMMA Welcomes Key Industry consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. They re- Priorities in President Trump’s State quire a special alert be added to the titles of to- of the Union Address taled or substantively damaged vessels, letting potential buyers know the boat has a checkered President Donald Trump delivered his second history. Reducing the number of inferior products State of the Union Address last evening, marking on the market also incentivizes banks and insur- the start of his administration’s 2019 policy agen- ance companies to issue more loans and policies, da. Included in the president’s speech was a com- often improving access to reasonable financing mitment to bipartisanship, infrastructure, and rati- and insurance options for consumers. fying the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which NMMA welcomed. This legislation also would align Florida’s titling law with uniform language being adopted by other During his speech, President Trump called on Con- states, which will make it easier to transfer boat gress to produce an infrastructure package that ownership across state lines, resolve disputes invests in vital national infrastructure projects. Ad- and other key protections already found in car ditionally, the president addressed his key trade titling laws but often lacking in marine applica- priorities, including our country’s trading relation- tions. NMMA and other advocates for the boating ship with China and the need to pass USMCA, or industry support the adoption of the uniform lan- New NAFTA. guage to replace the often mismatched requires between the states. Both of the Florida bills will Securing a comprehensive infrastructure package achieve these objectives. and trade deals with top markets – including the elimination of retaliatory tariffs – are top NMMA NMMA thanks Representative Williamson and Sen- advocacy priorities in 2019. Bipartisanship will ator Hooper for their leadership on this issue and be required to accomplish these objectives, and will provide updates as the bills advance. For more NMMA looks forward to working with the adminis- information, please contact NMMA vice president tration and Congress to achieve them. of state government relations, David Dickerson at For more information, please contact NMMA se- [email protected] or NMMA director of state nior vice president of government relations and le- government relations, Libby Yranski at lyranski@ gal affairs, Nicole Vasilaros at nvasilaros@nmma. nmma.org. org.

29 AMI Contact Information

Kayce Cashill-Florio International Marina and Boatyard Conference (IMBC) (401) 682-7334 [email protected]

Eric Kretsch Legislative and Outreach Coordinator (202) 350-9623 [email protected]

Merritt Alves International Marina Institute (IMI) Education & Training Programs (401) 247-0314 [email protected]

Merritt Alves AMI Membership Coordinator Phone: (866) 367-6622 Fax: (401) 247-0074 [email protected]

AMI 50 Water Street Warren, RI 02885 www.marinaassociation.org Toll free: (866) 367-6622 www.MarinaAssociation.org