Festival of Boating cancellation justified - Oceania MarineBusinessWorld.com newsletter
by Peter Rendle 8 Jul 2021 15:00 PDT
METSTRADE Show © METSTRADE
A week's extension of the current two-week lockdown in NSW vindicates the Boating Industry of Australia (BIA) for cancelling the Festival of Boating due to take place at the end of July. With no indication of when the current lockdown will end, the decision was well-founded.
Overseas, one of the first global leisure marine shows to reopen its doors, METSTRADE 2021 promises to be a special moment. From 16 to 18 November, RAI Amsterdam will host the physical reunion of the industry after over 1.5 years of virtual meetings. METSTRADE 2021 will be a genuinely hybrid event including three full days of live broadcasts via the all-new METSTRADE TV.
As conditions improve on a daily basis and vaccination rates soar across Europe, METSTRADE 2021 will benefit from the RAI's industry-leading Covid protocol for face-to-face meetings. "The main goal of RAI Amsterdam and our partner ICOMIA is to create a safe, successful and realistic gathering of the leisure marine industry," says METSTRADE director Niels Klarenbeek. "The enormous appetite among exhibitors and visitors to come together again in Amsterdam has been both inspiring and humbling."
The industry in Australia continues to remain positive and companies continue to make future plans. International marine insurance company Pantaenius Insurance has established an office at The Boat Works, among the next wave of marine brands and businesses to move into the Stage 3 tenancies in the North Yard. The Pantaenius team have expanded from their NSW headquarters to now offer instant boat insurance quotations and cover to owners from premises at The Boat Works. The global insurance giant Pantaenius has been winning the hearts (and boats) of Australians since its arrival into the Australasian market in 2012.
Other businesses to populate the purpose-built professional facilities include OBE Electrical, Ultra Marine Products, Superyacht Solutions, Stella, Choice Stainless and Bayline Marine Covers, with now only three tenancies remaining.
The Marina Training Institute (MTI) wholly owned by the Marina Industries Association (MIA) has announce that its popular Intermediate Marina Management Course will be held on 22-26 August 2021 on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. This four-day course is accredited by the Global Marina Institute (GMI) and is designed to provide marina personnel in a leadership position with fast-track training in the critical issues of marinas. It is also an essential course in a career path leading to the globally recognised Certified Marina Manager, Certified Marina Operator and Certified Marina Professional qualifications. The course is aimed at managers, supervisors and foremen who have had at least one full year of experience working at this level.
The Marine Industry Foundation (MIF) is proud to announce that it has provided grant funding to assist high school students from Eden Marine High, working on the Eden Canoe Project, to participate in regional festivals. In particular, they will provide a canoe building demonstration and encourage community participation at the Eden Whale Festival and the Aboriginal Arts & Crafts Festival - Giiyong. The funding will additionally provide new tools and materials to the students who will also be provided with the opportunity to attain the industry induction accreditation Marine Card, increasing the marine studies component in the school curriculum.
Managed by the Boating Industry Association (BIA) and the Marina Industries Association (MIA), the MIF was established in 2015 to broaden community access to the benefits of recreational boating and to assist the marine industry to grow and develop as a significant provider of social, recreational and employment opportunities.
The MIA has also ramped up its online education and activities to keep the continuity of learning taking place from the convenience of your location. The Oil Spills Response course is now available online. Marinas have potential to impact on the marine environment because of their waterfront location and the nature of boating related activities carried out at marinas and boatyards. Prevention through protection can serve as the first line of defence against pollution.
An oil spill in your marina or boatyard requires fast and efficient action to mitigate the risk along with effective planning for such an event. The course can ensure marinas and boatyards have those involved in the response adequately trained and prepared for their roles. This course is structured as an hour self-study portion and two hours live online zoom session with the presenter, Martin Silk, Group Risk Manager for d'Albora Marinas.
Leading Australian luxury motor yacht builder, Maritimo, has farewelled one of its longest serving employees, Mike Kenny, who has the distinction of working on every single Maritimo ever produced. Mike retired this month after a Maritimo tenure spanning more than one and a half decades. "I can truly say I have enjoyed every single day working at Maritimo and I have seen a lot of people come and go, and come and go again," he said.
Awards this week includes dealership The Multihull Group (TMG) who has once again cemented its reputation as one of the world's leading marine importers. At the recent world conference for Lagoon Catamarans, TMG was announced as the number one dealer in the Asia Pacific region. Commenting on the accolade, Managing Director John Cowpe said, "It is always flattering to win awards such as this and great recognition for our team. We are a passionate bunch, dedicated to providing the very best in service and support for our owners. We try to constantly be innovating and moving forward as a group.
Also, overseas, the Hutchwilco group has added another string to its bow with the acquisition of Denray Marine Services. Denray's operations centre around life raft, lifeboat and lifeboat davit supply and service, focusing on the commercial shipping market. Denray is the New Zealand distributor for Viking life rafts, and also offers helicopter underwater escape training (HUET), for organisations which operate helicopters over water.
In Thailand, Sail in Siam has been appointed as Barton Marine's new distributor in Thailand. Established in 2002, they are one of Thailand's top suppliers of high-quality gear for boating, sailing and water sports. Managed by Doug Smith and Ratt Natchaya, they place great importance on customer service which remains a cornerstone of their business. "At Sail in Siam, we are delighted to be involved with Barton Marine and to represent them in Thailand. The brand attracts respect and stands for the same high standards that we aspire to," says Doug.
During lockdown we will keep bringing you the latest industry news. If you want the latest news of Powerboats over 10m check out powerboat.world or if fishing is your preferred pastime fishingboating.world will keep you advised. For sailors, sail-world.com continues to be the mos- accessed sailing news site in Australia and the world.
Stay Safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com