Marine Risk Mitigation Series Webinar Taking Place May 13

The U.S. Coast Guard and the American Boat & Yacht Council will host the next installment of the USCG/ABYC Risk Mitigation Series, “Be Informed and Prepared: Emerging Technologies and Inspections,” on May 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT.

The free virtual event will bring together experts from ABYC, the Coast Guard and the marine industry to discuss emerging technologies, upcoming standards updates, new inspection formats and the future of advanced driver-assistance systems in recreational boating, according to the organization.

“There’s a lot changing across the industry right now, and people need clear, practical information,” said Brian Goodwin, ABYC Director of Standards and Compliance, in a news release. “Risk Mitigation Series 10 brings key updates into one place so manufacturers and the broader boating industry can better understand what’s coming and plan for it. It’s straightforward, timely and designed to help.”

Webinar topics include:

• Intro and update from the U.S. Coast Guard — The webinar will open with an update on eFoils from Brian Goodwin, ABYC director of standards and compliance, followed by insight from Jeff Ludwig, chief of the Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch, on the Coast Guard’s defect notification policy.
• Changes to upcoming standards — Attendees will get a look at changes coming with ABYC Supplement 66, including alternate capacity labels and flotation changes, from Craig Scholten, ABYC vice president of standards and compliance. Eric Johnson of the Coast Guard also will review the Coast Guard’s equivalence policy and how upcoming standards changes may affect it.
• Factory Visits 2.0: What to Expect — Kevin Ferrie, product assurance engineer with the Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety, will offer insight into the Coast Guard’s new inspection format and what manufacturers should know before a factory visit.
• ADAS: Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems — The final session will explore how advanced driver-assistance technology, already familiar in the automotive industry, may affect recreational boating in the coming years. Speakers include Dr. Grant Suzuki, chief of technology for Marine Innovation Engineering at Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit; Jason Arbuckle, Brunswick technical fellow and marine autonomy technical lead; and Sangwon Shin of HD Hyundai and Avikus.

Manufacturers, compliance professionals and others across the marine industry are encouraged to register ahead of next week’s webinar to hear directly from ABYC and the Coast Guard. Registration is available at www.abycinc.org/riskmitigation10.

The session will be recorded for later viewing.