Mercury to be recertified for ISO 9001 standard

Mercury Marine’s primary design, manufacturing, and sales/service operations in Fond du Lac, Wis., were recommended for recertification to the ISO 9001 international quality systems standard, according to the company.

The recertification process takes place every three years. Mercury Marine is the only marine engine manufacturer to be 100 percent ISO 9001-certified.

The recent audit consisted of an in-depth analysis of all aspects of the business processes by two auditors from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Certification. DNV is one of the world’s largest ISO 9001 registrars and has North American headquarters in Katy, Texas.

The auditors made note of the comprehensive implementation of the ISO 9001 principles at Mercury, and that an overall dedication to quality systems and customer satisfaction was apparent in all business activities.

“I would like to thank all Mercury employees for the strong showing,” said Mercury Marine president Mark Schwabero. “Our dedication to the principles of continual quality improvement and customer satisfaction will help us through the current economic crisis, and will give us a position of strength both now and as the boating industry recovers. It is clearly the right thing to do.”

Playing online boating games could make you richer

Logging onto www.BoatUS.com and playing the online "DockIt!" game of skill now could make you $25,000 richer while improving your boating knowledge. Every time you play and complete one level of the game, you'll earn one entry into BoatU.S. "Wave of Fortune," a year-long sweepstakes with a $25,000 grand prize.

The deadline is Nov. 30, with the grand prize winner drawn in December.

The DockIt! game gives players a choice of three boats to quickly and safely dock in a virtual marina slip, with progressively tougher docking scenarios. Hit a piling, run up on shoals or collide with another boat, and it's all over. But if you can make it into the slip — each boat has its own unique handling characteristics — you've just improved your chances of winning the $25,000 grand prize as well as weekly and monthly prizes. Along the way you'll gain knowledge on the rules of the road and other helpful boating tips and information. Play the game at www.BoatUS.com/games.

Solo sailor saved in offshore storm

A 61-year-old retired teacher who had set off on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage — a 12-month solo trip around the British coastline — saw his dream end in near death when his yacht sank in high seas off the Dorset, England, coast. His restored $29,000 yacht named Harnser sank after hitting rocks.

Click here to read a report in the Daily Echo.

Bill would require marine-engine ethanol study

A bill headed to the U.S. House of Representatives calls for a study of blended fuels in marine applications.

H.R. 2652, the Maritime Safety Act of 2009, is sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., and Section 23 of the bill calls for the study. The bill received a favorable report from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which is chaired by Oberstar.

"We think this is a good study, we think its doable and we think that in general there should be more studies, research and  investigation into the impacts of mid-level ethanol and E10," Matthew Dunn, legislative director for the National Marine Manufacturers Association told Soundings Trade Only this morning.

"We would be interested to see what the Coast Guard could do and what they would find out based on the relatively narrow scope here, which seems to be safety and consumer applications of blended ethanol," he added. "But we would emphasis with respect to the federal government allowing a new blend, like E15, that additional research would need to be done to make that determination and it would need to be done by the appropriate federal agencies."

Specifically, the act calls for a survey, not more than 180 days after the enactment of the act, of published data and reports pertaining to the use, safety and performance of blended fuels in marine applications, including in recreational marine engines.

Not later than three years following the enactment of the act, a comprehensive study would be conducted on the use, safety and performance of blended fuels in marine applications.

The study would include the impact of blended fuels on the operation, durability and performance of marine engines; the safety impact of blended fuels on consumers that own and operate marine engines; and fires and explosions on board vessels propelled by engines using blended fuels.

The act appropriates $1 million for the survey and study.

Dunn noted that the study does not specify what kind of ethanol blends would be studied, though the question today is should the government move forward with higher ethanol blends, such as E15.

"E10 has pretty much saturated the market and there's no going back," Dunn said.

Boating industry officials are concerned about a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that seeks to raise the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. The boating industry says it harms marine engines and that no tests on the impact of E15 have been conducted.

The EPA recently announced it was extending the comment period on the issue to July 20. The agency says it is required to make a decision by Dec. 1.

— Beth Rosenberg

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