In Brief: NMEA, RIBCRAFT, Peters & May USA, Power & Motoryacht, Laborde Products

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) and the Marine Electronics Industry Promotion Association (MEIPA) of South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will insure the adoption of NMEA standards, training and product certification throughout South Korea, the number one shipbuilding nation in the world, according to NMEA. The MOU sets a framework for NMEA and MEIPA to work together to develop courses and materials for the South Korean market, including a suite of marine electronics installer education qualifications based on the current NMEA Installation Standard. The MOU also establishes ground rules for MEIPA to translate NMEA documents into the Korean language and to distribute these documents within South Korea. The MOU covers cooperative areas, such as both organizations participating at each other’s conferences. The NMEA retains the intellectual property rights of all NMEA products that will be used and distributed in South Korea. MEIPA will implement the NMEA courses and qualifications within South Korea.

RIBCRAFT, a builder of rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), has signed an agreement with the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) to supply RIBs and sponsor the 2010 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship. RIBCRAFT will supply a fleet of RIBCRAFT 5.85s for the Match Racing World Championships to serve as umpire and support boats for the event. RIBCRAFT was a leading sponsor of the ISAF Team Racing Worlds in 2005 under a similar agreement. The NYYC will host the 2010 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Women’s Match Racing World Championship at Harbour Court, its Newport, Rhode Island clubhouse, on Sept. 20-25. Twenty women’s teams of four sailors each from around the world are invited to participate.

Marine logistics provider Peters & May USA has become the 2010 H1 Series title sponsor for the U-37 Unlimited Hydroplane team. “Miss Peters & May” will feature new driver JW Myers and begin the race season at the APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, Mich., June 25-27. Peters & May sponsored the team in the 2009 Oryx Cup and displayed the Miss Peters and May race boat at the Miami International Boat Show last month. Managing Director David Holley noted that H1 racing had provided excellent exposure for the shipping company and created a mutually beneficial relationship with the team. Peters & May specializes in logistics solutions for boats from 40 to 150 feel in length by multi-modal means. Additionally, the company transports everything from 16-foot personal watercraft, to cars, to full race teams.

Power & Motoryacht has made three additions to its editorial and sales staffs, all effective immediately. They include: Pete McDonald, contributing editor; Sandy Fish, West Coast sales representative; and Lou Fagas, Southeast brokerage representative. Perhaps best known as the former technical editor of Boating magazine, a position he held for 11 years, McDonald holds an MS in Journalism from Columbia University and has been the recipient of numerous writing awards for his work on such varied topics as electronics, fishing, engine care, and the environment. Fish, who runs a successful media-representation firm based out of San Francisco, has had a long relationship with PMY’s parent company, Source Interlink Media. The magazine recently split its southeast territory into separate brokerage and display accounts. In choosing Fagas as its brokerage rep, PMY returned to its roots: Fagas held the identical position for 18 years, during which time PMY dominated the brokerage market, the company stated.

Laborde Products has signed a new Yanmar marine dealer. Located in Kemah, Texas, Gulf Coast Composite offers sales and service of Yanmar marine engines for recreational applications. Housed in a 20,000 sq. ft. facility, Gulf Coast Composite specializes in the repair, refurbishment and customization of sporting, performance, fishing and sailing watercraft. “Laborde has a range of quality products and we hope to grow that line in this area,” said Gulf Coast Composite business manager Todd Overmire. “We also want to better serve the boaters on the Texas coast and being a Laborde dealer will help us accomplish that.”

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