Nmea International Marine Electronics News

Marine electronics experts named 11 products in nine categories as winners of the 2014 NMEA Product Awards. Once again, Furuno USA was named Manufacturer of the Year--Support. The winners were announced at the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo, held October 8-11 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott in Fort Myers, Florida. Category winners are chosen by regional panels of NMEA members from around the country, hand picked by the NMEA Awards Committee for their extensive knowledge of marine electronics to create a level playing field for all product and manufacturer support nominations. "We want to congratulate all of the award recipients," said NMEA Managing Director Mark Reedenauer.

Independent panel selects product based on innovation, benefit to boaters, practicality and value. Raymarine took top honors at the 2013 National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo, winning the NMEA-BWI Technology Award for its Evolution Autopilot. The NMEA event, held at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel & Marina September 25-28, was attended by representatives of leading marine electronics manufacturers, dealers, distributors, media, and others from the United States and abroad. Named runners-up in the Technology Award competition were Nobeltec's TimeZero app (first) and Garmin's quatix marine watch (second).

Marine electronics industry still has major concerns. An official of LightSquared, the company that has been under fire for its plan to offer mobile satellite services that could seriously interfere with Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, told a gathering at the 2011 NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo that solutions were in the works to prevent disruptions from occurring. “Our integrated network will bring great benefits to wireless users nationwide, but at the same time we’re committed to ensuring this service doesn’t interfere with any GPS devices.

Bruce Angus to serve as interim executive director. David Hayden, president and executive director of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) since 2007, submitted his resignation to the organization’s board of directors at the conclusion of the NMEA’s International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo last week in Fort Myers, Florida. In a statement to NMEA Board Chairman David Gratton and Vice Chairman Johnny Lindstrom, who accepted his resignation, Hayden said, “I wish to thank the board for the opportunity to serve, and I believe that the timing is right for me to move on.