Boating News

17 September 2026

Australian boatbuilders and supply chains are invited to help develop a globally harmonised environmental assessment methodology for the recreational marine industry, according to the Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA).

The BIA is an active member of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) which is leading on this project in collaboration with the European Boating Industry and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (USA).

The aim of this industry survey is to assess the recreational marine sector’s readiness to adopt a harmonised Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for vessels up to 24m.

The project is to establish a consistent, science-based approach to be used internationally to measure and communicate the environmental impacts of recreational craft across their lifecycle, from design and manufacture, build materials, operations, including fuel usage and ultimately disposal.

As stakeholder demands, eco-design and environmental reporting requirements continue to evolve, boatbuilders, suppliers and industry stakeholders are increasingly seeking reliable tools to understand, measure and improve environmental performance. A globally harmonised methodology will support greater comparability, transparency and credibility while helping businesses prepare for future market and regulatory expectations.

“The success of this project depends on broad industry participation,” said Joe Lynch ICOMIA CEO. “We want to ensure that our collaboration and the methodology reflect the realities of boatbuilders operating in different markets, building different types of craft, and working at different levels of sustainability maturity. The feedback gathered through this questionnaire will help shape a practical solution that delivers value for the entire global recreational marine industry.”

The information collected will help the project partners:

• Understand the industry’s current level of LCA awareness and experience
• Identify barriers to adoption
• Identify current and forthcoming legislation
• Assess training and support requirements
• Guide the development of user-friendly tools and resources
• Ensure global relevance across different markets and boat categories
• Support the creation of a credible and internationally accepted methodology.

The project ultimately aims to provide the recreational marine sector with a common framework that enables informed environmental decision-making, supports sustainable boat building continuous improvement, and facilitates credible environmental communication across global markets.

Have Your Say – Boatbuilders of vessels up to 24m are invited to participate in the survey and contribute to shaping the future environmental framework for the recreational boating industry. The survey closes Friday 23 October 2026. Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CG9S2J6

For information on BIA go to: www.bia.org.au