Mbia News

The Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) thanks the Michigan State House and Senate for speedy support of bills. The package included assistance to public and private marinas and helped streamline the regulatory process within the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The package received near unanimous support from both sides of the aisle and is headed to the Governor for his signature. "We commend the Senate and House for their commitment to help Michigan's marinas and Michigan's boaters," said MBIA Board Chairman Jim Coburn . "We are pleased our legislators recognize the importance of Michigan's boating industry to the future of Michigan. Thanks also needs to be given to Governor Snyder for identifying the crisis in early January and issuing a call to action.

Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) applauds introduction of legislation to help marinas during dredging crisis. Senate Bill No. 215, introduced by Senators Brandenburg, Hansen, Casperson, Booher, Green, Walker, Robertson, Jones, Proos and Smith is an act which will provide for low interest loan opportunities for marinas in need of dredging. "The problems facing our waterways need to be addressed immediately and a long-term strategy to maintain them needs to be developed," Brandenburg said. MBIA is supportive of the Governor's plan to assist public marinas with dredging funds.

Nichols Brothers Boatbuilders are building a highspeed catamaran ferry for San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation district. Designed by International Catamaran Designs (INCAT) of Sydney Australia, this will be Nichols Brothers 27th U.S. built highspeed catamaran. The vessel will be 139 ft. overall with a 34-ft. beam and draft of 9 ft. The individual hulls will have a beam of 9 ft.. A 37-knot speed is predicted with four 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50-M2 main engines delivering 1,600 hp each at 1800 rpm. Each IMO emission certified engine will drive a Hamilton model 571 water jet through a ZF Marine BU 460D marine gear. Electrical service will be provided by a 125 kW generator set powered by a Cummins Marine 6CT8.3DM engine.