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As a kid, I watched my grandfather eat an orange from Guatemala. He stopped for a moment and marveled at the new global economy. I had no idea why this was a big deal. Today, I get it. As the 70th anniversary of the American Boat & Yacht Council approaches, it’s important to consider the timeline of ABYC’s growing international influence.

In the early 1990s, our technical director, Tom Hale, initiated ABYC’s involvement in the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO. This group formed Technical Committee 188 to handle the details for the European Recreational Craft Directive for small craft. The ABYC strategy was to pass our standards to ISO and gain a global set of standards: one boat, all countries.

As we know, this did not go the way we had hoped. Despite members like Ralph Lambrecht holding more committee leadership positions than anyone else, the TC-188 took a predictable detour and published a suite of standards that were vaguely familiar, but certainly were not the ABYC standards. Differences in culture and perspective created a set of distinctly different standards that then became harmonized for CE certification in the European Union.

Though we continued our tenacious participation in international work, our industry languished through this scenario for many years. Builders with strong export markets became experts on ISO compliance and the details for applying the CE mark. Organizations such as the International Marine Consulting Institute became valued partners. Many an ABYC committee meeting was spent analyzing the ISO version of the ABYC standard and making adjustments where possible, trying on our end to ease the pain of international compliance for the boating industry.

The first chink in the European Union armor was evidenced by a U.S. representative, Tom Marhevko from the National Marine Manufacturers Association, being appointed chairman of TC-188. This move paved the way for more U.S. influence in the process, and for some much-needed updates to the standards. The U.S. voice began to be heard and to make a difference.

In 2016, Craig Scholten — a 30-year boatbuilder and a national and international compliance expert — joined ABYC. His goal was to elevate the influence of ABYC and its members in the work of the TC-188 and the ISO standards. The international community quickly recognized Scholten’s collegial approach and knowledge, and change began.

Today, we are closer than ever to a one-world, one-standard reality. Key industry players bring unprecedented influence to the process, fostering an environment of respect and cooperation that directly translates to an overall effective safety culture. We now see a mutual exchange of information and a true camaraderie among those doing this important work. International boatbuilders realize that the ABYC approach is a practical, achievable method of incorporating a superior level of safety while being easier to navigate and comply.

Scholten is now chairman of TC-188, and many ABYC members are conveners or project leaders within the ISO development process. ABYC chaired the first working group on electric propulsion, and we chair multiple committees on standards that eventually include the ability to comply with both ABYC and ISO.

ABYC has also become a true North American standard, with Transport Canada acceptance for pleasure and non-pleasure vessels. Our members and staff have been invited to participate in the review of the latest Australia and New Zealand electrical standard, and the Coast Guard is regularly engaged in ISO meetings, offering our industry a high level of credibility.

Taken together, these developments show that ABYC’s international influence has never been more positive. This, at a time when innovation is moving at a pace never before seen. Topics such as electric propulsion, lithium batteries and autonomous vessels are being discussed all over the globe. Our 70 years of experience, along with a positive safety track record, serves as our passport to influence the many discussions that are happening.

ABYC builders are truly benefiting from the shift in standards development. We are learning as much from our work with the international community as we are giving. Our future of harmonized global requirements looks bright. Our plan is to take it as far as we can. 

John Adey is president of the American Boat and Yacht Council.

This article was originally published in the February 2024 issue.