The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in late October awarded its first Clean Boatyard Award to MarineMax Associated Marine Technologies (AMT), a Dania Beach facility specializing in the repair of large pleasure yachts. MarineMax AMT is a unit of national retailer MarineMax, (NYSE:HZO), Clearwater, Fla.
At a ceremony at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the DEP presented a plaque and a special flag to Richard R. Bassett, MarineMax president, citing Bassetts long cothemitment to me principle that clean water is good business. Also accepting for MarineMax were Scott Miser, director of yacht services, Mark Hanke, general manager of MarineMax AMT, and Susan Kingston, MarineMax director of safety and environmental compliance.
Maury Kolchakian, assistant director of the DEPs Division of Law Enforcement, said that to earn the Clean Boatyard Award, MarineMax Associated Marine Technologies complied with all state and federal environmental regulations and passed a detailed inspection after completing a comprehensive series of difficult safeguards to help make sure that pollutants do not go into the water. For example, workers use dustless sanders to prevent airborne pollution. The boatyard uses a closed-loop pressure-washing system to keep paint debris from entering the water.
In accepting the Clean Boatyard Award, Bassett applauded the state for its Clean Boatyard and Clean Marina programs, noting that private industry always responds proactively and effectively to environmental programs that are collaborative and positive rather than punitive. The Clean Boatyard Award is a companion program to the Clean Marina program (Shoreline, September 2001). The Clean Boatyard Program was developed in collaboration with the Clean Boating Partnership which includes the DEP, Marine Industries Association of Florida, Marine Industries Association of South Florida, Florida Sea Grant Program, and the United States Coast Guard.
One of about 400 Florida boatyards, MarineMax Associated Marine Technologies is a 4.5-acre yacht repair facility located on the Dania Cutoff Canal (Marker 35) with a clear depth of 10 feet and an unobstructed route to open water via Port Everglades, 3.2 miles away. A full-service facility employing 85 persons, MarineMax AMT accepts vessels up to 140 feet long and its services include hauling and docking, plastic media blasting. exterior refinishing, carpentry/joinery, interior refurbishment, fiberglass fabrication and repair, and upgrading of electrical and propulsion systems. Its internet address is www. marinemax. com/amt
MarineMax AMT is the only boatyard in the MarineMax family of 54 U.S. retailers. MarineMax was established in 1998 by a group of Americas top recreational boat, pleasure craft, and yacht retailers to operate under a single brand that represents continuing value by offering boating education, service, and unique opportunities for customers to enjoy their vessels.