Thom Dammrich News

On 18 September 2013, Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Robert Marx, President of European Boating Industry, signed a joint declaration stating the intention of both organizations to work together in order to reduce and looking ahead, eliminate, unnecessary regulatory costs and unjustified regulatory differences between the EU and the US in the boating industry. This common declaration is occurring during the wider EU-US trade negotiations which were launched in July 2013 under the name of Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP). President Robert Marx from European Boating Industry explained that “the US and the EU are natural trade partners and have a long tradition of exchanges in the boating industry…

New data from The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) show 88 million Americans expected to take to U.S. waterways this summer. NMMA add that recreational boating in the U.S. has an annual economic value of $121-billion. The industry’s rising tide supports 964,000 American jobs and 34,833 businesses, generates $40 billion in annual labor income and drives $83 billion in annual spending. The NMMA, on behalf of the U.S. boating industry, released these findings as part of its annual U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, a collection of data and analysis on the state of the U.S. recreational boating industry. Retail sales of new power and sailboats increased 10.7 percent in 2012 to 163,245, demonstrating a post-recession recovery for the industry.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), announced that recreational boating in the U.S. has an annual economic value of $121 billion. The industry’s rising tide supports 964,000 American jobs and 34,833 businesses, generates $40 billion in annual labor income and drives $83 billion in annual spending. The NMMA, on behalf of the U.S. boating industry, released these findings today as part of its annual U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, a collection of data and analysis on the state of the U.S. recreational boating industry. -Retail sales of new power and sailboats increased 10.7% in 2012 to 163,245, demonstrating a post-recession recovery for the industry. -New powerboat sales increased 10% to 157,300 in 2012. -New sailboat sales increased 29.2% to 5,945 in 2012.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) today announced a joint donation of $10,000 to the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (MTA/NJ)’s Recovery & Relief Fund to provide aid to recreational marine businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy. NMMA estimates that the recreational boating industry creates $1.6 billion in annual economic impact in New Jersey. Making up part of the robust marine industry economic impact in New Jersey are approximately 1,140 marine businesses throughout the state that generate an estimated $224 million in labor income for employees. What’s more, these businesses serve an estimated 160,000 registered boats in New Jersey.

Recreational boating industry reports ten percent increase in new power boat sales in 2012: first sign of healthy growth since recession. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) early projections indicate the industry will see additional increases in 2013 by as much as 5-10 percent, with the caveat that this level of growth in 2013 will depend on a number of factors including continued improvement in economic conditions that impact recreational boating—namely consumer confidence and the housing market—and sustained increases in Americans’ participation in outdoor recreation. “Improving economic conditions and what seems to be a resurgence in Americans’ love for the outdoors…

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) express disappointment at Court's E15 fuel decision. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) said it was “disappointed” by a US court of appeals decision to dismiss its lawsuit against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The trade group and other manufacturing associations had earlier sued EPA over its decision to allow E15 into the country’s fuel supply. Recently the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit dismissed the case on procedural grounds. The marine trade association said it is “confident” that the court would have found that the EPA “overstepped its authority” in approving E15 if it had judged on the merits of the case. An NMMA statement said it is “evaluating” further litigation options.

After registration, delegates were taken on industry site visits to view rig designers, Southern Spars; large sailing-yacht builders, Southern Wind Shipyard, and the state-of-the-art facilities at Quantum Sails, which produce sails for multihulls and keelboats. Two more industry visits followed at catamaran builders Robertson and Caine and Two Oceans Marine. Congress commenced on Wednesday 18 April, and consisted of various committee meetings and the annual ICOMIA/IFBSO Joint Session was held on the Friday. The key note speakers were Michael Lalor of Ernst and Young, who spoke about the African market; Liesl Nel of Moorings, who gave a presentation on the global charter market…