Coronavirus update | 25 March

EUROPE

Members of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) provided updates on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the boating industry in their respective countries via a webshare service ICOMIA hosted for its members today, drawing 52 participants. IBI will be providing more ICOMIA updates from other countries in coming days:

ITALY

Only marine repair companies in the marine sector and certain suppliers will remain open past today, reports Andrea Razeto of Italy’s marine industry association Confindustria Nautica

POLAND

Most Polish boatbuilders continue to operate although wokring under increasingly stiff restrictions, reports POLBOAT president Sebastian Nietupski on behalf of the country’s boating industry.

UK

Ocean Safety shifts to courier deliveries

Ocean Safety, specialists in the worldwide supply, distribution, service and hire of marine safety equipment, has ceased its van run service from all branches. However, the company is still able to send orders to customers via courier (customers will be contacted before orders are dispatched to confirm if they are open and accepting deliveries) or customers can collect from branches at a pre-arranged date/time. For servicing enquiries, customers should contact service@oceansafety.com

Seawork and the M&CCE Expo postponed

The annual Seawork Exhibition and its sister event, the Marine & Coastal Civil Engineering (M&CCE) Expo, both of which have links to the yacht market, have been postponed. They were due to be held in Southampton from June 9-11 and the organisers, Mercator Media, are hopeful they can arrange alternative dates later this year.

For the past two years, Seawork, which is Europe’s largest marine and commercial workboat show, has expanded its superyacht involvement with the creation of a Superyacht Build, Repair and Refit Trail linking appropriate exhibitors within the event. The M&CCE Expo includes coverage of marinas and other related yachting projects. The organisers plan to give a further update at the end of this week.

AMERICAS

USA

Brunswick Corp suspends production at its Lowe Boats plant in Lebanon, in response to the impact of Covid-19.  The marine industry’s largest company has also extended its credit facilities and borrowings as a precautionary measure to increase liquidity and financial flexibility in the wake of substantial uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 crisis.

Indiana governor Eric J Holcomb signed Executive Order 20-08 into law yesterday requiring non-essential businesses in the state of Indiana to cease operations through Tuesday 7 April. The order effectively suspends operations for a number of US boat brands with manufacturing facilities located in the state, including Smoker Craft, Starcraft, Sylvan, SunChaser, Bennington, Hurricane, Rinker, Formula, Splendor and Barletta, along with numerous parts and accessories suppliers such as Lippert Components.

The US healthcare community has made a direct appeal to marine manufacturers to help them in a desperate need for personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a letter from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) to its members. 

Lippert Components has announced a temporary suspension of production at select manufacturing facilities across the US and Europe – effective on various days through the end of the week – in an effort to protect the health and safety of its team members, align production with current demand levels, and adhere to federal and state mandates. 

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Week cancelled

The annual Antigua & Barbuda Sailing Week 2020, which was due to take place from April 26-May 1, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is a key event in the Caribbean marine leisure events calendar, and it is the first time in its 53-year history that it has been cancelled. It usually attracts between 150 and 200 yachts with some 1,500 participants and over 5,000 spectators. It is the last of the matter regattas in the Caribbean to be cancelled for 2020.

As a result of the postponement, the Sailing Week organisers have indicated that Antigua and Barbuda will lose nearly $7m that it usually contributes to the island’s economy. In a statement, the Antigua Sailing Week Committee said: “As a result of national and global measures being taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and the priority being the health and safety of our citizens, competitors, spectators and volunteers, the decision to cancel Antigua Sailing Week is the only viable option.”

All the effort will now go in to organising an excellent event for 2021.

ROW

Taiwan

The 2020 Taiwan International Boat Show (TIBS), originally scheduled for March 12-15 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center and Kha Shing Pier 22, has been postponed to March 10-13, 2022. The show is held every two years and will be celebrating its fourth edition.