February  2002 NC Marine TradeWinds Newsletter

• EPA Tier II Reports Due March 1 - Avoid Major Per Day Fines  

• Coast Guard Boat Builder Inspections Find Few Faults

• Miami Boat Show Booth Promotes Statewide Marine Businesses to 147,000 Boaters 

• NC/SC/GA/VA EXPO 2002 Plans Underway  

• Straddle Lift and Forklift Training slated for March 19-20

• NMMA LegCon Attracts NC Manufactures

• Job Fair Focuses on Marine Businesses - March 21

EPA Tier II Reports Due March 1 - Avoid Major Per Day Fines

Tier II reporting is part of the Community Right to Know initiative where businesses are required to report the hazardous chemicals that they handle. If you keep MSDS data, you will have to file for any hazardous chemicals that meet or exceed the EPA thresholds identified and updated yearly in the EPA List of Lists. Most marinas will have to report for gas and diesel. Report if you have 10,000 lbs of gas or diesel above ground, or 75,000 lbs for gas, 100,000 lbs for diesel stored in underground tanks (the conversion is @1 gallon=6.5 lbs).

Tier II reporting should be fairly simple, assuming you have Internet access. All information on why and how to report can be found on www.ncwaterways.com/permits01.htm. The form to be completed is the Tier Two Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory form and can be found on www.epa.gov/swercepp/pubs/t2-instr.doc. To complete the form you will need the CAS numbers for gas (8006-619) and diesel (68476-302). The hazards of each product, the amount on the premises daily and at any one time, and information about where and how it is stored will all have to be recorded.

If this is your first time reporting there is a small grace period knowing that it may be difficult for you to meet the March 1 2002 deadline. Check with your county to see what their filing requirements and fees are. The county contact list is part of the information on the North Carolina web page link, www.ncem.org/SERC/2001faci.pdf. Contact your county Emergency Management office for more information (find at www.ncgov.com/asp/subpages/stormcenter_mult_org.asp?a=1191, or call Wendy Larimer.

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Boat Builder Inspections (Coast Guard ) Find Few Faults

As reported earlier, the Coast Guard is now inspecting boat builders to determine the flotation and capacity safety of the boats that are being put out on the water. Tom Allan, an inspector from the company contracted by the USCG, RNI in Maryland, has supplied us with the following information gathered on inspections in the state. Here is his "quick look" at problems and a hierarchy of importance:

The greatest concern found is with small manufacturers who have not calculated boat weight and capacity, and thus have not accurately assessed the “persons” capacity of the boat.  Although infrequent, another concern is an occasional horsepower over-rating. Allan reports most manufacturers have been very cooperative and eager to learn the regulations and take appropriate acction. The information regarding voluntary flotation/capacity testing in Solomons MD has been provided to all who receive the regulations package from Coast Guard HQ (OPB). Allan encourages any and all who haven't taken advantage of the program to give it a try.  It is an accurate way to get inspection information. (Thomas Allan, Compliance Associate RNI - USCG Recreational Boat Factor - Visit Program, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and phone/email:301/588-8089 RNIallan@earthlink.net).

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Miami Boat Show Booth Promotes Statewide Marine Businesses to 147,000 Boaters

In the first of several planned trade and boat show events, the NCwaterways.com booth provided an estimated 147,000 show visitors with an opportunity to learn about NC marine business – both those at the show and others in the NCwaterways database. Over 20 NC marine businesses were represented at the Miami Boat Show including boat builders - Albemarle, Bayshore, Cape Fear, Confluence Watersports, Davis, Jarrett Bay, Fountain, Hatteras, Grady-White, McKee Craft, Parker, Rampage, Regulator, Sculley, Tiara, Triumph, and World Class Catamarans. In addition, Beta Marine, Electric Fishing Reel Systems, Sound Marine, and Sturdy Marine had company booths.

This and future marketing efforts expose the diversity and depth of the NC marine industry and bring customers to your boats and company services. To make sure that your company is represented, verify company information on the website. To do so, go to www.NCwaterways.com and Locate NC Businesses. Enter your company name to see the basic information. If wrong, update. If missing, add. If you cannot update, follow the instructions. If you do not have Internet access, you can provide the basic company information including company name, NC address, key company contact name, type of marine product or service (limit to three such as marina, boat sales, and boat repair) and company phone and fax number by faxing to (252) 728-6988. We can help your company understand and obtain a web presence Ask. You must have a fax or email to have our assistance for this service.  

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NC/SC/GA/VA EXPO 2002 Plans Underway

Mark your calendars for November 10-12, 2002 for MarineEXPO. Since we’ve expanded our efforts to include Virginia, this year’s show will be held in Norfolk, VA at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside. Money Magazine called Norfolk “the South's #1 Big City". Look for some great seminars and our usual exhibitor hall. If you have comments, questions or suggestions for how to improve this year’s show please contact Wendy Larimer. We’d especially like to hear from exhibitors on whether they favor booth or table top displays and how much time they would like to exhibit.

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Straddle Lift and Forklift Training slated for March 19-20

International Marina Institute ((IMI)and American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABYC), in conjunction with the NCMTA, are conducting both straddle lift and forklift training on March 19-20 in Beaufort. The forklift training will be at Radio Island Marina March 19, 1-5 pm and straddle lift training will be held at Jarrett Bay Boatworks from 9-1. The cost will be $150 per person for one seminar or $275 for both. Watch your mail and/or go to www.NCWaterways.com - Business Assistance tab for more information. Register by calling Barbara Meyer at IMI.  941/480-1212.

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NMMA LegCon Attracts NC Manufactures 

The annual Legislative Conference held in Washington D.C. will again enjoy significant participation from NC builders and other business representatives. It is an opportunity to experience meetings with NC legislators and hear about efforts to educate and inform those legislators about issues of importance to the builders and marine trades industry in the state. This year, Linwood Parker of Parker Boats has taken an active role in recruiting business owners and representatives to the event. He and the dozen or more other business owners from NC that attend annually want businesses to get involved in the lobbying and information efforts that educate our legislators. The conference is being held May 6^th and 7th in D.C. You can get further information by going to the NCMTA website, http://www.nmma.org/government/legcon/ or by calling Kelly Rote-Bobek (202) 721-1608.

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Job Fair Focuses on Marine Businesses - March 21

In an effort to promote attention to the importance of the marine industry in the coastal counties of the state, an annual Job Fair, held in Morehead City, is focusing on marine businesses. This March 21^st event represents the increasing awareness of businesses that owe all or most of the company’s cash flow to boats and boating. As more marine businesses look for skilled workers, they increasingly compete for experienced and “willing-to-be-experienced” employees.  The organizers of this event are hoping to attract industry businesses from across the state. Information on booths can be obtained by calling Lynn Allred (252) 726-7081 or go to our job market site and connect to the March Job Fair link at http://www.ncwaterways.com/jobmarket.asp.

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