Weekly 5: Waters planned for Olympic sailing ‘sewage polluted’
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Waters planned for Olympic sailing ‘sewage polluted’
After an Associated Press investigation that showed high levels of viruses, Olympic officials will conduct additional test on the waters off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
A five-month AP analysis of water at each of the venues where about 1,400 Olympic athletes will have contact with water showed dangerously high levels of viruses from sewage.
The waters are scheduled to host sailing at next year’s Olympics, along with other events. Previously, the International Olympic Committee said it planned on only conducting tests for bacteria. After the World Health Organization recommended testing for viruses as well, the IOC reversed course.
Over the weekend, the International Sailing Federation said it would do its own independent tests for viruses.
“We’re going to find someone who can do the testing for us that can safely cover what we need to know from a virus perspective as well as the bacteria perspective,” Peter Sowrey, chief executive of the ISAF, told the AP.
2. MarineMax closing Maryland marina
MarineMax is shutting down its Joppatowne, Md., marina, the Baltimore Sun reported.
MarineMax acquired the Gunpowder Cove Marina near Baltimore in 2008. Boat owners have been told they need to remove their boats from the marina by November, the paper reported.
3. Missing Florida teens raise boating age question
With two Florida teenagers missing for more than a week off the coast of Florida, questions are being asked again about safety training and how old boaters should be to boat without an adult.
The two boys, who haven’t been seen since July 24, are both 14 years old. The boys had taken the required Florida boating education, according to media reports.
4. Miami boat show has $600 million economic impact
A new graphic from the Miami International Boat Show shows the nearly $600 million impact of the show on the Florida economy.
5. Greek boating industry warns on luxury tax
In a move that’s familiar to long-time members of the U.S. boating industry, the Greek government is considering imposing a luxury tax there. And the the Greek Boat Builders’ Association says that could be a “death knell” for the industry.
The government, as part of its plans to reverse Greece’s mounting debts, is considering making the existing tax apply to smaller boats, as well as increasing the tax rate.