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1:17 AM Wed 24 Dec 2008 GMT
 | | 'Charles Dickson, long time proponent of the Gold Coast marine industry, is now manager of new entity, Marine Gold Coast.'
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A few weeks ago, Charles Dickson, manager of Marine Queensland's Gold Coast Division wound up 10 weeks of meetings with local boat builders, "aiming to ascertain their problems and issues and to gauge their feelings about implementing standards (Australian Design Rules) for Australia's boat building industry, something along the lines of Europe's EC standards".
As Dickson explains: "Australia's boat builders have for many years prided themselves on the structural integrity and seaworthiness of the boats they produce. If we export our boats to the US, Europe or other markets they generally must comply with the relative standards for each market. However, when boats are imported into Australia, we have relatively few standards (other than recognised overseas standards) with which they must comply.
"There are few building standards to enforce the quality, or to guarantee the seaworthiness of boats sold on the Australian market, either locally produced or imported. On occasions, this has led to sub-standard boats being sold into the local market."
Dickson held meetings with 21 boat builders representing a broad cross section, "from inflatables and tinnies through to our largest luxury cruiser manufacturers", and reports back that feedback was interesting and encouraging.
Points raised included:
1. There is a great deal of concern surrounding Prime Minister Rudd's recent announcement that his government will move forward with the Free Trade Agreement with China. Coming on top of FTAs with the USA and Thailand, this has the potential to cripple our local manufacturing industry and the supply chain that supports it.
2. We need to do something to protect boat buyers from sometimes sub-standard boats entering Australia from these markets. This is not to say that all imported boats are of poor build quality - but rather that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that corners are being cut and we need to be able to play the game on a more level playing field.
3. Notwithstanding some highly publicised layoffs in recent weeks, most boat builders feel that they've now taken the hard decisions and are positioned well to meet the demands of the current economic environment in which they are operating, provided the imports meet suitable quality and seaworthiness standards.
4. While there are some concerns about the suitability of adopting existing overseas standards carte blanche, most are agreed that EC standards would provide a sound basis on which to start developing appropriate Australian standards of construction. This would not of course override any export requirements for our boats to be built to ABYS to meet US standards, or other overseas standards.
5. Most builders, particularly those building larger boats, say they have boats under construction and a reasonably comfortable level of forward orders.
6. The weakening Aussie dollar is positioning local builders well in relation to developing export markets.
Initiatives in progress include forming a Manufacturers Division within Marine Queensland, as BIANSW did earlier in 2008. "One of its objectives is to develop appropriate design standards applicable to all boats built in Australia and all boats imported into Australia. This is already the case with our exports to the USA and Europe where strict design standards apply. If our boats don't meet their standards, they are simply shipped back to the country of export or modified on the docks at the exporter's expense before they are allowed to be imported."
According to Dickson, this is likely to provide somewhat of "a level playing field" for manufacturers. "While we are unlikely to be able to reverse any FTA agreements, it will assist in maintaining high build standards and enhancing the reputation of our local industry overall."
The organisaton is also looking at the idea of accrediting boat builders. "Through the accreditation process, we could at least ensure that anyone purchasing an Australian-built boat from an Accredited Builder would be guaranteed that the boat would be built to recognised Australian standards," says Dickson.
"We are seeking assistance from the Queensland Government to liaise with their counterparts in each State and Federally in relation to developing and enforcing appropriate Australian standards.
"We are also seeking to have uniform design rules for all boats chartered in Australia. At present, each state has its own regulations, making it almost impossible to move charter boats say from Sydney to the Whitsundays, or WA as seasons dictate."
Marine Queensland and its Gold Coast Division are proud of their achievements to date. "There have been real concrete achievements, such as the introduction of an accreditation program for boat retailers and boat brokers. There are tentative plans to roll out this program to cover boat builders and others within the leisure marine industry. This will increase consumer confidence when dealing with accredited companies."
The division has also introduced, in conjunction with the Department of Transport, a Register of Encumbered Vessels.
"This is along the lines of the motor industry's REVS scheme and provides certainty of title when boats are bought and sold - a problem that has plagued boat brokers for many years."
There was also the introduction of Builders Plates and Hull Identification Numbers, which assists with ready identification of all boats and states the legal capacity (number of people who can be safely carried) for each boat sold.
Dickson says that as an industry and as an association, it's important to focus on the positive potential and achievements.
"There's good news out there and we're picking up the pace to ensure that our boating industry continues to thrive. My assessment of the situation is that it's not all gloom, doom and disaster for our Gold Coast boat builders."
More at www.goldcoastmarineindustry.org
by Jeni Bone
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