The focus of last week’s American Superyacht Forum was America’s contribution to the large yacht industry and our role in this competitive international business.

While no one questioned America’s capacity to design, build and outfit yachts that match or exceed the best, several speakers and participants pointed out that American shipping regulations effectively prevent the creation of a vibrant domestic superyacht charter market.

Unfortunately the first reason given for this absurd state of affairs was, as is all too common, the Jones Act. It can be argued with considerable merit that the only reason there are any American builders still in business now is because Jones Act protections prevent the destruction of their yards by those who would otherwise sell off the skills and infrastructure that bring the fleet of foreign-flag yachts to Ft. Lauderdale. 

It is imperative that anyone who wishes to improve American standing in yachting and who desires to bring more business to American shores must understand what the Jones Act and its much more applicable cousin, the Passenger Vessel Service Act, really mean in addition to how and where they apply.

Both of these acts are an impediment to expanding the business opportunities of American builders and operators of large yachts. Those facts cannot be denied, but the acts also protect the builders, repairers, suppliers, and contractors without whom few reading this would recognize Fort Lauderdale.

Rather than follow the crowd who have narrow interests in their desire to eliminate the American Merchant Marine and convert the few remaining American shipyards to waterfront shopping centers, it would benefit far more Americans to work with existing maritime groups to change those parts of the acts that form such imposing barriers.

Present at the conference were the leaders of the groups with the ability to influence the changes we need. Among those were the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF); the U.S. Superyacht Association (USSA); and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).

ABYC may be the best and most direct avenue to positive change. ABYC has a history of setting technical standards in pleasure yacht construction and many of its voluntary standards have been adopted in USCG regulations. The MCA isn’t the only source of guidance and it doesn’t have to be yachting’s one-way street either.

There is no reason why America cannot use the resources available to create an American Yacht Code and present that Code to Washington as a means to create a specific exclusion for large yachts that allow American yards to build and flag the same boats to the same degree of luxury as the rest of the world and to allow both foreign and domestic owners to show what American charter destinations have to offer. 

Maybe it is time to put a big bold Y in ABYC.

Richard S. BoggsTechnical SuperintendentCamper & Nicholsons International