THE COMMITTEE’S MISSION AND GOALS

ICOMIA created its Boating Facilities Committee nine years ago with the express objective of enhancing the quality of recreational boating through guidance for the growth and improvement of marinas, yacht harbors, and small boat launching ramps.

Some of the primary objectives of the IBFC are:

1. To provide international leadership and a forum for the exchange of helpful technical, environmental, and marketing information that can facilitate successful development and operation of recreational boating facilities;

2. To forge partnerships between the recreational marine manufacturing industry and marina developers, builders, owners, operators, and users, for strength and unity in securing and keeping space for recreational boating and boating facilities;  

3. To actively seek and enlist the cooperation of all levels of government in supporting the development, maintenance, and operation of marinas;

4. To reach out to and help educate marina interests in emerging boating markets around the world; and

5. To foster the image of marinas being sensitive to environmental impact issues, and a responsible partner in the universal campaign for clean waters.

Several strategies are pursued for the attainment of these goals.

Periodically, the IBFC conducts surveys to learn about the state of the marina business. This has helped to determine the number of marinas from country to country. Not surprisingly, the number is greatest in the United States (11,000 to 12,000), followed by Canada (more than 3,500), and the Netherlands (approximately 1,000). Looking for trends or patterns, surveys have been done to compare national government environmental restrictions on the development and operation of marinas, practices for setting slip rental and dry land storage fees, and employment in the marina industry.

The IBFC serves as an international clearinghouse of recreational boating facilities information. It publishes a regularly updated bibliography of authoritative references on a wide range of subjects, largely drawn from papers presented at international marina education conferences; also, an international directory of architects, engineers, and consultants who are qualified and experienced to assist marina developers anywhere in the world; a marina risk management check list for display dockside or in marina administration buildings; and a review of public-private partnerships for the creation of recreational boating facilities in various countries.  

The committee networks with other organizations in the boating facilities field, pooling ideas and information for the greater education of marina operators seeking advice. There are ongoing liaisons with such U.S.-based organizations as the International Marina Institute (IMI) and the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA), as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, and the U.S. Sector of the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC). These liaisons have proved very fruitful. Continue »