ABYC holds Standards Week and annual meeting
SEATTLE, Wash. — The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) held its 2015 Standards Week in Seattle, Washington, January 12–15. Also during this time, the organization hosted educational opportunities and its Annual Meeting.
The event is a critical step in the revision of ABYC Standards. Each is reviewed on a three- or five-year cycle by an ABYC project technical committee. This year, meetings included Control Systems, Electrical, Electrical Components, Gas Detectors and Hull Performance. Over 130 industry leaders met to discuss and resolve issues surrounding boating safety.
“This is our 6th Standards Week and the impact on boating safety grows every year,” said Brian Goodwin, ABYC technical director. “With more experts at the table than ever before, this annual event is where the business of boating safety gets done.”
Educational opportunities also took place during the week. The ABYC Standards Certification class and Exploration into ABYC Basics: Electrical, Systems & Corrosion Seminar were both full to capacity.
On Wednesday evening, January 14, the organization hosted its Annual Meeting. Over 100 attendees convened for the event at the Seattle Hilton Downtown. Awards were presented to ABYC Departing Board Member, Steve Herb; the ABYC Service Award went to Wayne Kelsoe; the ABYC Horizons Award to Scott Renne; and the ABYC Life Service Award was presented to Kevin Ritz. The meeting’s keynote speaker was George Harris, Northwest Marine Trades Association president. Attwood, Blue Sea Systems, CED Technologies, ElectroGuard, ESI, Marinco, ProMariner, Skagit Valley Community College, Springfield Marine Company, Sure Marine and Xantrex sponsored the event.
Since 1954, the non-profit American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has developed safety standards for boat design, construction, equipage, repair and maintenance. The essential global source of marine industry technical information, ABYC’s product safety standards, credentialing, education, training, and other tools help members make boating safer.
Contact the American Boat & Yacht Council, 613 Third St. #10, Annapolis, MD 21403. 410-990-4460; Fax: 410-990-4466. media@abycinc.org. www.abycinc.org.
