Marina Dock Age, April/May 2001

International Marina Conference Planned for Sydney
by Ron Stone

Sydney Australia, will be the venue for ICOMIA’s Fourth International Marina Conference, popularly referred to as IMC 2002.

A WHO’S WHO OF SPEAKERS

The conference, scheduled for March 7-10, promises a truly international perspective on the significance of marinas in today’s leisure-time industry.

Several Americans are included in the lineup of speakers:

Dennis Kissman, president of Marina Management Services, Inc., will lead the marina management/operations issues panel discussion. Jim Frye, executive director of the Marina Operators Association of America (MOAA) will discuss professionalism in marinas and how marine trade associations can be of help to marinas. Mary Kuhn, marina manager of the Marriott Marina in San Diego, California, will describe the Marriott’s approach to hospitality.  

Dan Natchez will share his vast knowledge and experience as president of an international consulting service to point out the advantages and pitfalls of doing business on the Internet. Dennis Nixon of the University of Rhode Island and cofounder of the International Marina Institute, will explain universal principles of marina liability. Edwin F. Drabkowski, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Jan R. DeLaney, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, will describe educational approaches to the campaign for clean waters.  

Dave Obern, head of the Oregon State Marine Board’s highly acclaimed public boat access program, will talk about soon-to-be published federal design standards for barrier-free boating and sport fishing facilities.

Steve Lewis, in charge of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ public boat access program, will cover design, construction, and maintenance of boat launch ramps. In 2002, Mr. Lewis will be president of the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA), the national organization for state government agencies responsible for planning, designing, building, and maintaining public recreational boating facilities.

Mike Kelsey, Sr., recently retired as longtime chairman of Palmer Johnson, will describe what megayacht owners and captains look for in facilities and services.

There is a great diversity and wide range of talent and experience among speakers from other countries, as well.

From Great Britain, Sam Bourne, executive director of the Yacht Harbour Association of the U.K., who is currently president of ICOMIA, will emphasize the importance of marinas to the success and future growth potential of the recreational boating industry. Peter Wagstaffe, customer relations manager for British Waterways, will present an inspirational example of public/private partnerships, telling how his public corporation works with private enterprise to cultivate the recreational potential of a 2,000-mile inland canal and river network in England, Scotland, and Wales.

From France, Philippe Duchene, general manager of ACT-OUEST, will talk about optimizing marina profitability by sensible pricing policies for boat slips, boat hoists, and land-based services.  

From the Netherlands, Jolke U. Brolsma, secretary of PlANC’s Sports and Pleasure Craft Commission, which is made up of multinational government representatives involved in navigation safety, is invited to discuss an in-progress working group project on dredging problems and solutions for marinas. Continue »