ABYC and NMEA form alliance

EDGEWATER, Md. – The American Boat & Yacht Council and the National Marine Electronics Association have agreed to mutually recognize each organization’s scope of responsibility for standards development, implementation and application within the marine industry, ABYC said in a press release yesterday.

Under the terms of the agreement:

  • NMEA will append and reference ABYC Standards E-2 (Cathodic Protection), E-10 (Storage Batteries) and E-11 (AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats) in the NMEA 2004 Installation Standards Guidelines.
  • ABYC will reference NMEA’s 2004 Installation Standards Guidelines as applicable.
  • ABYC and NMEA will ensure that their respective standards writing policies, procedures and development practices are aligned.
  • ABYC and NMEA will actively participate as members on each organization’s relevant standards writing committees and agree to work towards complying with the ANSI standards writing criteria.
  • ABYC and NMEA agree to pursue opportunities to work cooperatively in providing industry training, education and professional development programs for the marine industry.
  • ABYC and NMEA will provide the other with one reciprocal organization membership.
  • ABYC and NMEA agree to cooperate in other areas to be determined for the mutual benefit of each organization’s membership and industry at large.
  • “In short, ABYC is responsible for electrical system standards and NMEA is responsible for electronic component installation standards – equipment that interfaces with or is connected to the electrical system,” said Skip Burdon, ABYC president & CEO. “A synergistic relationship clearly exists between ABYC and NMEA, and working cooperatively together can only benefit both the industry and the boating public.”

    Steve Spitzer, NMEA technical director said NMEA’s Installation Standard Guidelines are designed to complement the applicable ABYC standards, making knowledge and understanding of the ABYC Standards and Technical Information Reports – especially E-10 and E-11, a prerequisite.

    “Ultimately, our goal is the same,” Spitzer said. “And that is to ensure that safer boats are produced and maintained, which will reduce the level of risk, increase the level of enjoyment for the boating public, and ultimately increase the long-term sustainability and financial health of our industry.”

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