VIS

After spending some 10 to 12 millions so far in an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Vessel Identification System to meet the requirements of the ship Mortgage Act, the Coast guard is now doing a feasibility study to report back to Congress.

Problems involved in the original attempt, were duplicate or non-existent HINs and lack of voluntary cooperation from the states due to complexity or cost. Consequently, the VIS was never adopted. In addition, technical issues in uploading the various state’s data and the cost for same, discouraged Coast Guard officials from proceeding. Recommendations have been made to evaluate commercial products, presently in use, that could provide an interim solution.

Needless to say, no changes in the present HIN system would appear imminent.

REMINDER

Boat dealers are required to report all non-financial business transactions paid for with more than $10,000 in cash. New procedures passed last December to this 1970 requirement did add some required additional information. Any questions, check with your accountant.

MOUs

We again ask that you return your voluntary agreement to support the use and sale of low-pollution outboard and personal watercraft engines. At present only about a dozen dealers have returned this form. We feel there are probably 100 members who would be eligible to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

Your only obligation is to report to this Association once a year the numbers of outboards or PWCs sold and how many of those were low pollution types. We summarize these in a report to the EPA in December. If you don’t have your copy of the MOU, please notify Ray Gaffey at (781) 545-2803 and we’ll send you one.

NH Boater Education

For those with customers from or traveling to New Hampshire, you should be familiar with that state’s Boater Education Law. Anyone operating a boat in NH waters needs to receive a Safe Boating Certificate from that state. The law was approved in 2000 and is being implemented gradually based on operator age. In 2002 persons between the ages of 12 and 19 are required to have the Certificate. By 2008 all boaters , including out-of staters - will be required to have one. Fines will be between $50 and $200. Certificates from USCG, USPS and certain others will be accepted. Contact the NH Marine Patrol for further details – www.boatsafe.com/New_Hampshire/

Massasoit Classes

Another successful Boating Trades Certificate Course started Sept. 10 at the Canton Campus of Massasoit Community College. Thanks to Ed Lofgren’s publicity and ability to obtain teaching staff, we have about 28 prospective employees in the course. These are all from other industries, anxious to learn about ours.

New Owner

C & E Distribution Corp., Inc. has been sold to Andy Stone, it was announced by Charles Donahue and Ed Lofgren. The address will remain the same - 390 North Franklin Street, Holbrook, MA 02343 - but the phone numbers have been changed to 781-767-0021 (Fax – 781-767-5457). Please change your directory accordingly.

Test Tower OK’d

In late August, the Corps of Engineers approved plans for a test tower off Cape Cod to gather data for the feasibility of the proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound. The tower will measure meteorological conditions and ocean currents, temperatures, and salinity.

The proposal to have 170 wind turbines about 1/2 mile apart over 25 square miles of the sound, has drawn opposition from residents and environmentalists. Proponents point out that wind power is the cleanest and fastest growing energy resource in the country.

Volta Oil/Valvtect Volta Oil, an MMTA member from Plymouth, has teamed up with Valvtect to supply to it’s many customers marine premium diesel fuel with “Bioguard” in every gallon. Bioguard helps keep fuel tanks free of harmful bacteria and engines running at peak performance. This season the most talked about gasoline additive is Octane Performance Improver which Volta also supplies in its fuel. Call Mike Anton at 508-747-3778 x 138.

Employee Grants

Recent employee grants for 2002 included:

• Tina LeBlanc: Marina Bay - $250.
• Peter & Peggy Monahan: Monahan’s Marine - $500.
• Patrick Desmond: 3A Marine - $250.
• Matt Davis: Allen Harbor Marine Service - $250.

• David Marks: Massasoit Tuition - $250.
• Gary Coe: Massasoit Tuition - $250.
• David Gilrein: NEIT Scholarship - $1,500.
• Jim Willwerth: 3A Marine – Tools - $267.50
• Dmitri Chalke: NEIT Scholarship - $1,500.
• Ronald R. Barnes, Jr.: NEIT Scholarship - $1,500.