After two years of active lobbying by the U.S. Superyacht Association (USSA), U.S. flagging regulations are closer to getting their first update since they were written in 1920. There’s now Congressional support for the Coast Guard to develop rules for megayachts exceeding 300 gross tons, the current limit. No one knows exactly why the regulations Continue reading
The classification society RINA has helped spotlight the importance of environmental sensitivity with its voluntary Green Plus status. It’s now expanding its sustainability focus with two additional class notations. Specifically, they are Environmental Footprint and Fire Survivability. RINA Environmental Footprint encompasses a yacht’s lifespan, so to speak. It involves practices undertaken in her construction and Continue reading
PHOTO: Capt. Jacob Van Reenen
Good news for Yachts and megayachts cruising the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, and more. President Barack Obama has signed the 2013 Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) into law. This legislation has been nicknamed the “Highway Bill for Boaters.” Why? Because the WRRDA provides much-needed funds and maintenance for dredging, inland locks, and Continue reading