Organizers of the Marine Fabricators Conference 2022, being held Jan. 13–15, 2022, at the Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C., are seeking tips, how-to ideas and DIY techniques that benefit the marine fabrication industry. Qualified entries appear in Marine Fabricator magazine, and prizes for first, second and third place are presented at the Awards [...]

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced TextilesShade & Weather ProtectionSpecialty FabricsMarine FabricationGeneral Business Also [...]

A recent economic analysis, “An Economic Evaluation of the Proposed Luxury Boat Tax,” conducted by Jack Mintz, Ph.D., at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, in conjunction with Fred O'Riordan at EY Canada, concludes that Canada’s proposed luxury tax on new boats will collect little revenue while threatening middle-class jobs across [...]

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the first major update on U.S. international ocean-shipping laws in more than two decades–an important step for marine manufacturers who have been affected by ongoing supply chain and port disruptions exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association website. Bipartisan legislation, the Ocean Shipping Reform [...]

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is partnering with the North East Canvas Products Association (NECPA) zone to bring marine and awning education tracks to NECPA Expo 2022 being held Jan. 20-22, 2022, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Warwick, RI. The education topics will include fabric graphics, outdoor dining structures, high-pressure [...]

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam proposed a two-year budget that will include nearly $245 million for outdoor recreation and Virginia’s natural lands. The new funding will help significantly expand Virginia’s network of regional trails, state parks and the Office of Outdoor Recreation, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association website. Outdoor recreation employs more than 197,000 [...]

Photograph courtesy of FlexJobs.com The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will host the webinar “The Key to Lowering your Turnover” on Dec. 15, 2021, at 1–2 p.m. EST. The webinar is free to IFAI members (including Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) members) and is $39 for nonmembers. Hiring has become tougher and finding the right applicant [...]

Cox Marine has joined SHAPE UK, a consortium looking to develop the UK’s first zero-emissions maritime hub, to work with the University of Brighton to convert one of the company's CXO300 diesel outboard engines to operate as a dual-fuel hydrogen engine, according to boatingindustry.com. The SHAPE project will: Address the viability of a local hydrogen [...]

The Innovation Awards are returning in-person to the Minneapolis Boat Show®, and the call for entries is now open. The Innovation Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in four product categories: Aluminum fishing boatsFiberglass fishing boatsPontoon boatsFurnishings—New for 2022 All Innovation Award entrants gain valuable product exposure, including: Innovation Award signage—identifies your product as cutting-edge to [...]

Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) has joined other recreation organizations as the newest member of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association website. As ORR’s first higher education member, OSU’s CORE will bring the bandwidth and expertise of a top-tier public university to the $689 [...]