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European Boating Industry debates new rules with EU policy-makers

On behalf of European Boating Industry, President Robert Marx and Vice-President Alan Morgan welcomed the visit of the EU delegation in boot Düsseldorf on 26 January 2012. The delegation was led by British Member of European Parliament Malcolm Harbour, who is also the rapporteur in charge of the revision of the EU directive on recreational craft in the European Parliament. He was joined by policy advisors to the European Conservatives and Reformists and Greens political groups, as well as representatives from the European Commission.

One of the aims of this field visit was to meet European boatbuilders and business representatives and discuss the changes that the new legislation would bring to the sector in the coming years. While stricter exhaust emissions will apply to engines in the future, European Boating Industry proposed the mandatory fitting of holding tanks or on-board water treatment systems to prevent discharge of sewage at sea. Faced with a difficult economic situation since 2008, the boating industry was also keen to see better enforcement of the current and future rules on EU markets. The group debated on possible means to strengthen the market surveillance in Europe and guarantee that only compliant products are sold to the consumers. European Boating Industry is closely following the revision of the recreational craft directive in Brussels, which is expected to enter into force by mid-2015.

On this picture, from left to right: President Robert Marx; Götz-Ulf Jungmichel, Director of boot Düsseldorf; Member of European Parliament Malcolm Harbour (UK)

January 2012 issue - Newsletter

Our activities are resuming after the Christmas break and we will be meeting in boot Düsseldorf (Germany) on 23 January with the Assembly General. On 26 January, in boot Düsseldorf, European Boating Industry will host the visit of the EU delegation in charge of the revision of the EU recreational craft directive.On the EU affairs side, new developments are taking place in the area of boat's end-of-life treatment and the electro-magnetic compatibility requirements. New EU funding programmes were announced for the period 2014-2020, while the European Commission pledges to reduce the regulatory burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises.

December 2011 issue - Newsletter

On the eve of Denmark taking the EU Presidency for the next 6 months, the announcement of the revived Danish association DANBOAT is a good news for the European boating industry.

Less positive is the new "carbon tax" which will apply to fuels used in the boating industry, with a progressive entry into force as soon as 2013. On the topic of industrial emissions and the environment, a series of guidance documents for installations is now available in many EU languages. You will also find an update on the new directives on biocides (incl. antifouling paints) and on hazardous substances in electric / electronic equipment.

To learn more about these topics, please contact your national association - see list here

Please note that our Brussels’ office will be closed from 23 December until 2 January 2012 inclusive. For urgent matters, you can always contact the Secretariat at +32 / 2 639 62 57, while e-mails will be answered after 2 January.

We wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

::: TAKE 10 MINUTES FOR OUR SURVEY ::: Design - Boatbuilding - Equipment Manufacturing :::

In order to gain a clearer understanding of the needs of the industry in terms of design, we are asking companies within the boating industry to complete a short questionnaire. This questionnaire is targeted to companies invovled in design, naval architecture, boatbuilding, equipment manufacturing and suppliers. It should take no more than 10 minutes to fill in (21 questions, mostly yes/no answers). The deadline for answering is 20 October 2011.

Link to the online survey in ENGLISH: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EBDIG_Industry_Questionnaire

Link to the online survey in FRENCH: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EBDIG_Questionnaire_Industrie_Francais

Link to the online survey in GERMAN: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EBDIG_Fragebogen

About the EBDIG project:

European Boating Industry is a partner in the European Boat Design Innovation Group (EBDIG) project, together with our British member, the BMF - British Marine Industry. This project aims to make the European boat design industry more competitive in the international market place by providing on-line training material for designers working within the industry. The objective of EBDIG is to transfer advanced design methodologies and technology from the automotive sector into the marine sector to facilitate design innovation and competitive advantage. More information can be found at: www.ebdig.eu

October 2011 issue - Newsletter

Our video "Working with the EU" is now available in 10 languages, take a look at the section "About Us". Following the RINA international conference on marine design, we launched a survey on design for designers, boatbuilders and equipment manufacturers. On the EU affairs side, a British conservative was appointed in European Parliament to work on the revision of the recreational craft directive. The Parliament also reinforced the importance of developing a European tourism policy. Finally, a number of funding opportunities for both R&D and business financing are available now.

To learn more about these topics, please contact your national association - see list here

27-29 September 2001 - Free entrance vouchers to visit COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 (Stuttgart, Germany)

From 27 to 29 September 2011, COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 will bring together stakeholders in the most dynamic and innovative exhibition in the Europe’s strongest composites market. More than 300 exhibitors will show you the latest materials trends, new design solutions and business partners in the field of carbon-reinforced composites.

For this event, European Boating Industry and COMPOSITES EUROPE have established a close partnership to support the participation of the boating industry. Through this partnership, we would cordially like to invite you to the show.

European Boating Industry has secured free entrance vouchers for members. To receive your free-of-charge entrance voucher, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This year, COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 will:

• Feature nearly 3,000 composites products showcased by over 300 exhibitors, the current list of which can be found here
• Present the latest materials solutions and technologies from the entire composites value chain - at a single show, saving you both time and money.
• Represent a unique learning and networking platform in combination with the 14th International AVK Conference which is being held simultaneously. For more information, please click here

More about COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 on www.composites-europe.com

14-15 September 2011 - RINA International Conference on Marine Design (Coventry, UK)

European Boating Industry, in partnership with the European Boat Design Innovation Group (EBDIG) and British Marine Federation, supports the RINA International Conference on Marine Design, which took place in Coventry (UK) on 14-15 September 2011. This conference brought together stakeholders from across the marine industry to discuss the latest developments in, and future of, marine design. Attendance at the conference qualified as Continuing Professional Development, with delegates to the conference receiving a CPD certificate.

European Boating Industry President, Robert Marx, opened the event with his keynote speech on the challenges and opportunities faced by the boating industry. Reflecting on these challenges and opportunities, a series of papers were presented over the two days, which focused on different aspects of marine design, including sustainable and inclusive design and operation, the transfer of innovation from the automotive industry, as well as ergonomics and domotics. The full spectrum of marine design was analysed, from small craft and superyachts to commercial and government vessels. In addition, a number of case studies from the European Boat Design Innovation Group (EBDIG) project were presented, including a high speed coastal cruiser for the Chinese luxury market and a hovercraft as an alternative logistics platform for the ice roads of Northwest Canada.

This two-day conference provided a forum for reporting and discussing the design practice and technical issues associated with aesthetic design. The outcomes of the European Boat Design Innovation Group (EBDIG) project, an EU funded project, were also presented. EBDIG aims to make the European boat design industry more competitive in the global marketplace by providing online training for designers working in the marine industry.

Over the course of the conference, a series of technical papers were presented which cover a number of aspects of aesthetic marine design, including:

• Design visualisation (including design methodologies, design practice, innovative concepts, design analysis tools, computer aided design), TOI (Transfer of Innovation)

• Ergonomics and domotics (including UCD (User Centred Design) methodologies, emotional design methodologies, (Transfer of Innovation) from other industry sectors)

• Sustainability in construction (including one-off construction and series production issues, facility design, materials, joining technologies, reconstructions and rebuilds of historic craft)

• Sustainability in operation (including, equipment, results of sea trials, results of instrumentation, TOI (Transfer of Innovation) from other industry sectors)

• Implementation of regulations in the design process (including international, national, and regional regulatory frameworks, classification, codes of practice, rating rules)

• Virtual work/learning environments (including, CPD for marine designers, networking opportunities for innovation and exchange, virtual work environments to facilitate multi-disciplinary, multinational teams)

The programme for the event, with a full list of topics and speakers, can be found here

More about the event on www.rina.org.uk/marinedesign

July 2011 issue - Newsletter

In this last newsletter before the summer break, you will learn more about the proposal amending the EU recreational craft directive whivh is expected for 26 July. For boatbuilders, a series of updated safety guides for unsaturated polyester resins are now available online. We have also secured an exclusive offer for our members at the trade show Composites Europe. Marina professionals are invited to submit their views on the revision of EU port reception waste facilities directive. Finally, a number of funding opportunities for both R&D and business financing are available now.

To learn more about these topics, please contact your national association - see list here

Please note that our Brussels’ office will be closed from 28 July until 15 August included. For urgent matters, you can always contact the Secretariat at +32 / 2 639 62 57, while e-mails will be answered after 15 August.

We wish you all a beautiful summer!

16 June 2011 - New video "Working with the EU" now online

European Boating Industry proudly presents its first video "Working with the EU", which shows how European Union’s legislation affects the boating industry and presents the association’s work carried out in Brussels. The video, which contains interviews from representatives from the Commission and European Parliament, is available here as well as on our new YouTube channel.

Link to the movie “Working with the EU”: http://www.youtube.com/user/EuroBoatingIndustry

At its annual Assembly General meeting held on 10 June 2011 in Rotterdam (Netherlands), European Boating Industry elected its new Council for 2011-2013. A total of nine members were elected to the Council with six being re-elected for a second mandate, as well as three new Council members. The Council, which acts as a board and defines the association’s policies and strategies, elected Mr Robert Marx as the new President of European Boating Industry. Robert Marx is o wner and CEO of Marx Technik, a German equipment distributor. Mr Marx is member of the Council since its creation and also the President of the German marine industry federation Bundesverband Wassersportwirtschaft (BVWW), which sponsors BOOT Düsseldorf, one of the biggest inside boat shows in Europe.

Robert Marx succeeds Fritz Conyn, owner of the Dutch boatbuilding company Contest Yachts, who was the first elected President of European Boating Industry and who will continue to serve as Council member.

“I would like to thank outgoing President Conyn for his hard work over the past two years” said Robert Marx upon his election as President. “Fritz’s contribution to the work of the association has been instrumental in setting up an efficient representation of the boating industry in Europe. I hope to build on his work and continue growing the association. In particular, I look to actively promote membership of European Boating Industry and strengthen our work with private companies in Europe.”

In addition to the election of the President, Alan Morgan, Director of Zodiac UK and Chairman of the British Marine Federation, was elected as Vice-President and Treasurer, while Lorenzo Selva, owner of Selva Marine Spa and Vice-President of the Italian federation UCINA Confindustria Nautica, was re-elected as Vice-President for a second mandate.