Froomberg goes in BW director restructure

30 Jun 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Following a strategic review of British Waterways’ (BW) directors’ roles to increase efficiencies, chief executive Robin Evans announced a restructure of responsibilities. 

Commons EFRA Committee backs BW

01 Jul 2008

BW/DEFRA: The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) published its report into British Waterways (BW) at 01.01 this morning, Tuesday 01 July. The comprehensive 39 page report makes interesting reading, coming down overall in favour of BW and saying it's encouraged by the work BW and DEFRA have done since summer 2007 to improve and clarify their relationship. 

Study confirms contribution of Solent marine industry

30 Jun 2008

WATERFRONT STRATEGY: The findings from the Solent Waterfront Strategy study confirm the major contribution the Solent marine industry makes to the UK economy, including future opportunities for growth. 

Clipper Race generates coverage worth US$56.85m

07 Jul 2008

CLIPPER RACE: The 10 teams contesting the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race arrived back in Liverpool on 05 July at the end of their 35,000 mile circumnavigation having generated media coverage for the sponsors worth, says Clipper Ventures, some US$56.85m. 

Coastguard industrial action

07 Jul 2008

A letter from Clive Welch, president of the MCA Section of the Public and Commercial Services Union: 

Suchet to oppose EA actions at RTA AGM

07 Jul 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Actor David Suchet is set to speak out this week against the Environment Agency’s (EA) policy to dispose of a number of lock keeper homes in a cost saving exercise. 

NBS Williams appointed IFBSO president

07 Jul 2008

PRESIDENT: Andrew Williams, managing director of National Boat Shows (NBS), has been appointed president of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO), taking over the position from Bengt Wallin of Goteborg. 

New men at the top of BMF and NBS

07 Jul 2008

TOP CHAPS: Jon Eads and Paul Strzelecki assumed the respective roles of president of the British Marine Federation (BMF) and chairman of National Boat Shows (NBS) on 1 July 2008.
Mr Eads CMM is managing director of MDL’s Marina Division, responsible for all of the company's mooring, retail and boatyard operations.

XSN plc agrees terms to acquire MarineTrack

07 Jul 2008

ACQUISITION: XSN plc is set to acquire the entire issued share capital of MarineTrack in a reverse takeover that will be subject to existing shareholder approval at an EGM to be held on 28 July 2008. 

Pendennis takes top apprenticeship award

14 Jul 2008

AWARDS: Falmouth-based superyacht builder Pendennis Shipyard has taken the prestigious Large Employer of the Year award at the annual national Apprenticeship Awards, writes Katina Read. Now in their fifth year, the Learning and Skills Council’s Apprenticeship Awards are designed to recognise employers who successfully use apprenticeships to improve business performance. 

Hilary Lister makes WPNSA stopover

14 Jul 2008

FUNDRAISING: Quadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister, who is currently undertaking a ‘Round Britain Dream’ solo sail in her specially adapted Artemis 20, is currently making a stopover at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), the 2012 sailing venue. 

Milestone in Prescott Lock construction

14 Jul 2008

PRESCOTT LOCK: Volker Stevin, the British Waterways (BW) contractor, achieved a major milestone in the construction of the new lock and water control structure in Prescott Channel, east London, by holding back the tide from the waterways in the Olympic Park on 9 July. 

SBS features: four boats and a stage show

14 Jul 2008

PSP SBS: National Boat Shows (NBS) says the feature boat line up is a huge draw every year for visitors to Mayflower Park and this year at the PSP Southampton Boat Show promises to be no exception, with the 40th SBS seeing boats such as Jeanie Johnston, Spirit of Mystery, Lively Lady and Callista. 

Three industry people pass away

14 Jul 2008

OBITUARIES: Three industry people sadly passed away recently. Owen Parker passed away at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Bob Fisher is putting something together for us on the man who was the mainstay of many top racing boats, among them Morning Cloud. 

100 exhibitors for 1st North Wales Boat Show.

14 Jul 2008

BOAT SHOW: Starting on Friday week, 25 July, the first North Wales Boat Show has now passed the magic 100 exhibitors, say organisers Ben and Claire Sutcliffe.

Pro-Boat appointed for Allen range

01 Aug 2008

DISTRIBUTION: After the very public split with Holt earlier this year, Allen Brothers has appointed Pro-Boat to distribute its Allen range to chandleries in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Boatbuiliders can now purchase direct from the company. 

New head for boot-Düsseldorf team

01 Aug 2008

BOOT-DÜSSELDORF: Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel is to be the new director of boot-Düsseldorf, taking over in November ready for the nine day event which starts on 17 January 2009.

Get the fuel story

01 Aug 2008

ONLINE: An innovative website that will help boat owners shop around for the best value fuel has just been launched. 

Two US lines for Kernowrat

01 Aug 2008

French trailers find UK home

01 Aug 2008

DISTRIBUTION: Like many good affairs it began in Paris, culminating this summer in the Satellite range of trailers finding a home with Boating Sports who have signed up as the UK distributors for the French production company, RSA. 

Line 7 makes a comeback

01 Aug 2008

LINE 7: New Zealand clothing brand, Line 7, is making its UK comeback with the Inshore Jacket, Inshore Smock and Aquatec trousers. 

Working boats boycott Falmouth event

01 Aug 2008

SOUTH WEST: Working boat owners are to boycott Falmouth Week this year after race organisers failed to meet their demands, writes Katina Read. 

Boost for Clyde business booster

01 Aug 2008

SCOTLAND: The Sail Clyde Initiative will be launched by the Scottish boating industry and Scottish Enterprise at Largs on 29 August, writes Mike Balmforth. 

Issues and updates from BMF-S

01 Aug 2008

SCOTLAND: BMF Scotland will be running another Technical Day on Tuesday 26 August, writes Mike Balmforth. 

Investment celebrated with a splash

01 Aug 2008

SCOTLAND: The announcement of a £337,080 investment in Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYAS), was celebrated by an outing on the Firth of Forth for the new chair Louise Martin CBE, and Minister for Communities and Sport Stewart Maxwell, writes Mike Balmforth. 

Another 90 berths for Tarbert

01 Aug 2008

SCOTLAND: The newly announced Crown Estate grant to Tarbert (Loch Fyne) Harbour has given the green light to the installation of another 90 pontoon berths, writes Mike Balmforth. 

Lynx looks for race opportunities

01 Aug 2008

SOUTH COAST: Lynx Sports Management have taken delivery of six Laser SB3 sportsboats which will initially be based at Lymington, but can be easily repositioned for other events including Cowes Week, Cork Week plus other UK and Overseas regattas, writes Iain Sutherland. 

Big plans for Poole's West Quay

01 Aug 2008

RNLI strained over fuel costs

01 Aug 2008

SOUTH COAST: The RNLI says its fundraising efforts will have to be intensified to meet the rocketing cost of fuel, writes Iain Sutherland. 

Microbial move into marine market

01 Aug 2008

VENTURE: Technology company Byotrol plc, better know for its hospital anti-microbial agents, has embarked on a joint venture with Unipart Leisure & Marine in order to bring a new range of marine cleaning products into the market. 

GBR takes top place at Volvo Youth Championship

21 Jul 2008

OLYMPICS: As we go into the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the GBR sailing team can be expected to bring us back another haul of medals. Beyond this year’s games, the future looks equally bright as Great Britain last weekend topped the medal table at the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Århus, Denmark. 

Sea lock failure on Crinan Canal

21 Jul 2008

SCOTLAND: The Crinan Canal is closed to through traffic after the cill on the sea lock failed over the weekend, according to a report on the BBC Scotland website. 

IWAC calls for ICT on Britain’s waterways

21 Jul 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: The Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC) today (21 July) issued its latest report entitled Information and Communication Technology for the UK’s Inland Waterways. 

Saltonstall honoured after 30 years

21 Jul 2008

AWARDS: On the occasion of his 30th and final ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, Jim Saltonstall MBE was honoured for his achievements at the event. Many legendary sailing names emerged from the Volvo/ISAF Youth Sailing programme to win Olympic gold medals, lift the America's Cup and triumph in the Volvo Ocean Race. 

Exhibitor events programme for PSP SBS

21 Jul 2008

BOAT SHOW: Last year saw the first Exhibitor Evening Event programme at the Southampton Boat Show. The events were devised by National Boat Shows (NBS) and its consultant for the events, Assorti Ltd, to give exhibitors and those working at the show the opportunity to wind down in an evening after a hard day's work at the show. 

METS catalogue goes digital

21 Jul 2008

METS: METS organiser Amsterdam RAI and METS official magazine IBI are to send out advance digital copies of the catalogue instead of the paper copies that used to be sealed in with the October issue of the magazine. 

Any old film?

21 Jul 2008

HERITAGE: National Boat Shows (NBS), the organiser of the PSP Southampton Boat Show and its 40th anniversary celebrations, would like to hear from companies or individuals who have good quality footage of any interesting aspect of boating over the past four decades. 

NBS-supported Spirit of the Sea a success

21 Jul 2008

FESTIVAL: Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour’s inaugural Spirit of the Sea marine event to promote the Olympic sailing venue, 5 – 13 July, surpassed all expectations and is predicted to generate a lasting boating legacy beyond 2012. 

Landmark decision in disability discrimination law

01 Aug 2008

DISABILITY: A new case in disability discrimination means what was once interpreted as protection for just the employee has now been extended to cover those dependent on the employee, according to Gareth Edwards, a partner at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers. 

Success for first North Wales Boat Show

28 Jul 2008

BOAT SHOW: The first North Wales Boat Show was hailed a complete success by its exhibitors, says organiser Ben Sutcliffe after 11,000 people had attended the three-day show. ‘We’re chuffed to bits,’ he told BB. ‘We’ve had exhibitors telling us we changed the industry in North Wales in just three days.’ 

Ipswich hit by outboard thefts

28 Jul 2008

EAST COAST: Ipswich detectives are attempting to crack a lucrative operation involving the theft and trade of outboard motors. Nine outboard engines - worth as much as £10,000 each - have been stolen from businesses and voluntary groups in the area in only a week. 

Bowker announced as BW vice chairman

28 Jul 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Richard Bowker CBE has been appointed to the role of BW vice chairman by waterways minister Jonathan Shaw MP. ‘I am delighted that Richard Bowker has accepted my offer to be the vice chair of the board of British Waterways,’ said Mr Shaw. ‘He will bring strong support to the chair through his good balance of excellent commercial experience and his understanding of the waterways from a user’s perspective. 

Waterway use on the increase says BW

28 Jul 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: The number of boats on the waterways has risen in the last year to more than 31,000 and is greater even than at the height of the industrial revolution, says the recently published British Waterways (BW) Annual Report. 

BMF/SOCA targets RIB use by organised crime

28 Jul 2008

RIB RAIDERS: A joint taskforce has been set up to tackle the use of RIBs by organised crime. According to the British Marine Federation (BMF) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), RIBs manufactured in the UK are being used by criminal gangs to smuggle drugs, firearms and people. 

Is adventurer Fossett still alive?

28 Jul 2008

DISAPPEARANCE: A lawyer for Peggy Fossett, widow of the aviation adventurer Steve Fossett, has dismissed claims he may have faked his own death. Michael LoVallo disputed suggestions from investigators and insurance assessors that the record-setting pilot and balloonist, a friend of Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, could still be alive after his mysterious disappearance in the Nevada desert 10 months ago. 

Henderson voted in at IWA

01 Aug 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Clive Henderson has been voted as national chairman elect by the council of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) to succeed the present national chairman John Fletcher, who will stand down in November, writes Harry Arnold. 

Sea Otter goes back to basics

01 Aug 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: A new limited company is being formed to continue the manufacture and servicing of Sea Otter aluminium boats, writes Harry Arnold. It will, however, revert to concentrating on the original functions of the Staveley-based boatbuilders, which was the building, maintaining and providing owner services for purely trailable boats.  

Ireland's Royal Canal set for 2009 opening

01 Aug 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Waterways Ireland has confirmed that the Royal Canal will finally be reopened in 2009, writes Harry Arnold.  

Good progress on Mon & Brec repairs

01 Aug 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Repairs to the bed of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal following the major breach of October 2007 are making good progress and British Waterways (BA) says it is currently on target for the dry section of the canal to be re-filled by December and fully reopened by March 2009, writes Harry Arnold. 

Work to continue on Cotswold Restoration

01 Aug 2008

BW sells a lock

01 Aug 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Somewhat unusually British Waterways (BW) has sold a lock and a short length of river, writes Harry Arnold. It is however the derelict and infilled lock that once enabled craft to pass through Llanthony Weir on the old west channel of the River Severn. 

Navigation versus wildlife on the canals

01 Aug 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Faced with conflict between boating interests and environmentalists on inland waterways, occasionally high profile cases, the Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC) has published a full report on the subject, writes Stuart Fisher. 

Owen Parker

01 Aug 2008

‘The Yanks had never tasted hot tea made in the English way before,’ reminisced Owen Parker when he returned from the United States in 1956. It was his attention to detail that fascinated the Americans, a trait that was always part of the Parker persona.  

Hands-on survey training

01 Aug 2008

TRAINING: The only hands-on practical course on boat surveying in the UK has seen 32 students pass through its doors since the course began running in 2007. 

Lobby for flare standards

01 Aug 2008

LEGISLATION: Standardised rules on replacing dated safety products has been called for by a leading distress signals company. 

Tech company listed on AIM

01 Aug 2008

ACQUISITION: MarineTrack Holdings has moved into the London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) through a 'reverse aquisition' by XSN - a 'cash shell' already listed on AIM.  

Monster money for Leviathan

01 Aug 2008

AUCTION: New York maritime collectors gasped when a shipping poster expected to sell for just £3,000 was knocked down for £19,000 following a lengthy sale-room bidding battle, writes Dave Selby.  

Phileas finds new channel

01 Aug 2008

DISTRIBUTION: Boating Sports are now the official UK importer and dealer of the Open 5.00 and 5.70 keel boats from Phileas Boats. 

Web help for wiring

01 Aug 2008

COMPARISON: The world’s largest marine electronics comparison website is being launched at this year’s Southampton boat show.  

SBS features: four boats and a stage show

01 Aug 2008

PSP SBS: National Boat Shows (NBS) says the feature boat line up is a huge draw every year for visitors to Mayflower Park and this year at the PSP Southampton Boat Show promises to be no exception, with the 40th SBS seeing boats such as Jeanie Johnston, Spirit of Mystery, Lively Lady and Callista. 

40 years tied up with Marlow

01 Aug 2008

LONG SERVICE: On 29 July, Marilyn Kitcher celebrated 40 years working for Marlow Ropes. During that time she’s worked for four different owners and, having been the backbone in the office for all of the company’s sales, most of the major companies in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world would have spoken to her during her five decades at Marlow. 

Solent in Europe

01 Aug 2008