A diverse list of industry news items this week - MarineBusinessWorld North America newsletter
by Peter Rendle 15 Oct 08:00 PDT
Boat manufacturing © National Marine Manufacturers Association
The U.S. Department of Commerce this week posted the list of Section 232 steel and aluminum inclusion requests submitted by domestic producers. The requestors are asking the Department to subject approximately 700 HTS Codes - including marine products - as derivative articles of steel and aluminum, subjecting them to the 50% tariffs.
Yacht tracking and fleet monitoring are essential for efficiency, safety, and compliance with real-time visibility. Traditional tracking methods face significant challenges, including limited connectivity, such as GSM range, reliance on costly networks, vulnerability to harsh environmental conditions and power consumption. On October 22nd we are hosting an exclusive and free webinar, with an in-depth exploration of the latest in tracking technology.
The Sea Tow Foundation, a national non-profit dedicated to promoting safe boating, in collaboration with its Boating Safety Advisory Council, is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 National Boating Safety Awards. Now in its seventh year, the awards highlight exceptional safety efforts and initiatives led by the for-profit sector of the boating industry. The awards were presented at IBEX in Tampa, FL on October 8. The award recipients were recognized for their inspired approaches and steadfast commitments to creating safer experiences for boaters nationwide across eight categories.
NAVAN® Boats, the exploration-focused brand within Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), is accelerating its North American growth with the addition of five new premier dealers. This marks a significant milestone as part of the brand's global strategy to deliver a full product lineup within four years. The newest dealers joining the NAVAN network include Chesapeake Yacht Center (MD, DE), D&R Boats (New Jersey), Hamptons Marine (Long Island), Viage Group (West Florida), and Performance East (North Carolina).
The Magenta Project, a global charity driving equity and inclusion in sailing and the wider marine industry, is proud to announce the launch of the Mighty Magenta Community Hub - a digital space for the sailing and marine community to meet, share opportunities, and strengthen networks across borders. The Hub goes beyond chat groups: it features an interactive newsfeed, direct messaging, access to webinars and events, curated resources, and global opportunities.
When Covid brought the world to a halt in 2020, it also froze one of the most adventurous corners of international travel — ocean cruising. For decades, South Africa had quietly served as a vital stopover for yachts circumnavigating the globe. That all changed overnight when borders closed. As dozens of yachts found themselves stranded across the Indian Ocean with no ports to enter, two members of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), John Franklin and Jenny Crickmore-Thompson stepped in. Working with South Africa's maritime authorities, they successfully lobbied to reopen the nation's ports for a limited six-week window — a lifeline for crews adrift and a spark that would reignite an entire sector.
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media