MEMBER NEWS

The Sailing Industry Says Goodbye to a Long-time Friend

On January 1, the sailing industry lost one of its most beloved members. It was a surprise to most. We’d like to take a moment to remember Jerry Twomey with a bio from Sailtime Tampa Bay.

Jerry Twomey was originally from Cork in Ireland and lived in Saint Petersburg, Florida, at the time of this passing. He was very experienced in downwind and offshore sailing, giving talks throughout America at boat shows and other sailing events.

At the age of 10 years old Jerry started his sailing adventure and was a member of the oldest yacht club in the world (Royal Cork Yacht Club, est. 1720) since 1972. He was the Chief Sailing Instructor for the RCYC and represented Ireland at international conferences on sail training.

Jerry raced over 30,000 miles in offshore sailboat races including;

• five Fastnet races,
• six Round Ireland races,
• the French Offshore Championships and numerous
• RORC races, Cork Weeks and Cowes weeks.
• He is a member of Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC – London) since 1995.

Jerry has sailed on many voyages throughout Europe including; Ireland, UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Portugal and on both coasts of the USA.

Only recently, in 2012, Jerry sailed from St Lucia to Panama, competing in the first leg of the World ARC (Atlantic Rally Cruise) of a Discovery 67, sailing vessel Sapphire II.

Supreme Court Rules on Standard for Determining What is a Vessel

From NMMA—The Supreme Court on January 15, 2013, issued an opinion in the Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach, Florida, case involving a floating house moored at a marina. The house in question was not capable of independent movement, had no steering capability, no ability to generate or store its own power, and was not used for transportation purposes. The Court resolved a split in the circuits on how to apply the definition of vessel and in the process created a new reasonable observer standard.

The definition in question defines "vessel" as encompassing "every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on the water." 1 USC § 3.

The Court found that it could "find nothing about the home that could lead a reasonable observer to consider it designed to a practical degree for 'transportation on water.'" The Court also noted the existence of state laws in Washington and California that treat "floating home" structures like ordinary land-based homes rather than like vessels. The Court noted that consistency with federal and state laws in this case "is a virtue that creates simplicity making the law easier to understand and to follow for lawyers and for nonlawyers alike."

The U.S. opposed an "anything that floats" test because it would place an inspection burden upon the Coast Guard to inspect these structures. For more, read NPR's reporting on the case or read the opinion and other filings including the National Marine Bankers Association's Amicus Brief.

ICOMIA Releases 2012 Quarterly Economic Statistics Report

The 2012 Quarterly Economic Statistics Report by Country: Edition Three is available through the ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) library. The report contains quarterly information on economic development, such as inflation rates, gross domestic product growth and unemployment, in 33 countries around the world.

The ICOMIA Quarterly Economic Statistics Report is updated every three months. The third edition covers quarter one (January–March), quarter two (April–June), and quarter three (July–September) of 2012.

ICOMIA will fill any gaps that may exist retrospectively in future editions. The Association strongly encourages you to read the notes that accompany each country’s statistics, where you can find information on indices and sources used.

Members of ICOMIA can access the report in the online ICOMIA library by using their login details.

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