Welcome to the South Carolina Marine Association's CURRENTS NEW LETTER. 

If you have news to share with other members, please let us know.

 

 

MARCH  2008

 

MEETINGS:  The next meeting of the SCMA Board of Directors will take place on Thursday, April 10th, at 1:00 PM at Filet's Restaurant in the Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach.  There will be a reception following the meeting (at the same location) for members and potential members hosted by Coquina Yacht Club. Please let the SCMA office know if you plan to attend.

 

NEW MEMBERS:

 

We welcome the following new members to SCMA:

 

    Marine Service Center:  Mickey Thompson, Longs, SC

    Precision Marine Services:  John Brophy, Charleston, SC

    Port Supply:  Dwayne Schalles, Hanahan, SC

 

MEMBER NEWS:

   

    Duncan's Boats has re-opened in its new location at 3571 W. Montague, N. Charleston, SC 29418.

 

    Hanckel Marine and Scout Boats have partnered to open a location on Daniel Island called Sportsman Island.

 

    Milt Hazel, of Benchmark Marine, has published an article in the February issue of Marina Dock Age Magazine called "Benchmarking Marinas".

 

    www.scmarine.org has two new features.  The first is the Career Center where both employers and potential employees can post job openings and resumes.  The second is a Member-to-Member Benefits where SCMA members can offer discounts and other savings to our fellow members.  Check them out!  We're also working on an overhaul and update on the membership listings. 

 

    The Charleston City Boatyard is offering a 25% discount to SCMA boat broker/dealer members for haulouts and launches.

 

Charleston In-Water Boat Show:  To date, 22 SCMA members will be exhibiting at the boat show produced by Maritime Events, LLC.  SCMA will also have a booth and we need volunteers to man it to talk to other businesses about joining and to let the public know what SCMA and its members do for them.  Please let Suzi know when you can help!

 

    Also, please send business cards and brochures to SCMA so that we can display our member businesses!

 

CLEAN MARINA/CLEAN VESSEL ACT NEWS

 

    Scott Meister, SCDNR, has 30 contracts going out for Clean Vessel Act funds. If you are interested in information on this program, an explanation and the forms are available at www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/vessel/index.html

You can contact Scott at 843-953-9062.

 

    HOLD YOUR CLEAN MARINA/CLEAN BOATYARD APPLICATIONS!!!  SCMA and DHEC-OCRM are working on improvements for implementing the Clean Marina/Boatyard program.  An initial review of the first applications received under the newly revitalized program made us realize the applicants may not realize the extent of the requirements.  We are revising the checklist, instructions and procedure to clarify what parts of the program are mandatory, what parts are voluntary, what documentation is needed, and how to calculate your score.  We will also implement workshops that will be a required part of the application process.  Written justification, particularly of the No and N/A answers, may be required and an explanation and presentation to the inspector of how you are complying will be required to substantiate Yes answers.  We will also be training inspectors to standardize the inspection process.

 

    Please, if you are planning to submit an application for Clean Marina or Clean Boatyard status, WAIT until the revised checklist and program are announced.  We appreciate your patience.

 

LEGISLATION

 

    TAX SITUS: H4685 would amend the current limitation on how long boats must be in the state before becoming liable for property taxes to 180 days in the aggregate.  We are hoping the House Ways & Means Committee will hold a hearing on this bill next week.  Please send your legislators any information you have on lost business because of the current time restrictions.

 

    BOAT REGISTRATION: H4764, which makes changes in titling and registration of boats, was introduced at the request of SCDNR.  Several of our dealer members had asked for assistance in this and several members of the SCMA Board of Directors went to the subcommittee hearing in Columbia to support the bill.  It should go before the full committee, possibly this week. 

 

    EPA PERMITTING: S. 2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008, has been introduced in the US Senate by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) to fully and permanently restore a 35-year permit exmption for recreational boat incidental discharges, such as weather deck run-off, engine coolant water and gray water.

 

    The EPA is on the verge of implementing a plan that would require all 18 million recreational boats in the US to get a federal permit in order to "discharge" non-polluting water that occurs in the normal operation of a recreational boat.  S. 2766 would put a stop to this permitting scheme and recognizes that these nominal discharges do not harm the environment.  This permitting issue has nothing to do with existing bans on the discharge of water polluted with oil or other pollutants.  Discharging polluted water already is banned under separate laws and this bill would do nothing to change those laws. 

 

    Unless Congressional action is taken soon, every recreational boat owner in the country would be required to apply for the same expensive permits as ocean-going commercial vessels and land-based industrial facilities.  Please contact Senators DeMint and Graham or your senators asking them to co-sponsor S. 2766.  Ask your employees and customers to do the same.  A sample letter is available at www.boatblue.org.  Both NMMA and BoatUS are asking for us to help with this.

 

You can contact Sen. DeMint at www.demint.senate.gov or fax your letter to 202-228-5143 in Washington, DC, 864-271-8901 in Greenville, 843-722-4923 in Charleston, or 803-771-6455 in Columbia.  You can contact Sen. Graham at www.lgraham.senate.gov or 202-224-3808 in Washington, 864-250-4322 in Greenville, 803-366-5353 in Rock Hill, 843-849-3887 in Charleston, 803-933-0957 in Columbia, 803-933-0957 in Columbia, 843-669-9015 in Florence, or 864-888-3335 in Seneca.

 

CALENDAR:

    March 31          Advanced Marina Management School, Newport, RI

    April 10            SCMA Board of Directors Meeting

    April 17 - 20     Charleston In-Water Boat Show

    April 17 - 20     Charleston Race Week

    April 27 - 29     American Boating Congress, Washington, DC

    May 8              SCMA Board of Directors Meeting

    May 14-17        Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament

    May 16-18        Charleston Harborfest

    May 28-31        41st Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:  For more information, contact Suzi DuRant, Executive Director, SCMA

                                        P.O. Box 12187

                                        Charleston, SC 29422

                                        843-889-9067

                                        843-889-9631 fax