News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2002

Marine Engine Manufacturers to Work with Oregon to
Promote Sales of Cleaner Outboards and Personal Watercraft

Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-721-1621
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

Washington, DC—The State of Oregon has entered into an agreement with marine engine manufacturers and retailers to “encourage the purchase and use of low-emission marine engines, such as direct fuel-injected 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard and personal watercraft marine engines, by the boating public.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by officials from the Oregon State Marine Board, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the Portland Marine Dealers Association, the Marine Retailers of America, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. These groups have agreed to “work cooperatively to develop public educational materials… In addition, dealers and manufacturers of marine engines may offer financial incentives, such as rebates, to encourage the purchase of low emission marine engines.”

“Environmental responsibility is a top priority for the personal watercraft industry,” said Kirsten Rowe, new executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association, an affiliate of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “This agreement is more evidence of our desire to provide customers with environmentally-friendly recreation. It’s a positive move for the marine industry, for our customers, and for the environment.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that by the year 2006, new outboard and personal watercraft engines must meet new, lower emissions standards for hydrocarbon (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The purpose of the Oregon agreement is to “accelerate the phase-in of these low emission marine engines in Oregon and inspire other states to follow this direction.” Similar agreements have already been signed in Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

“Personal watercraft manufacturers have long been committed to creating cleaner and quieter vessels,” said Rowe. “Modern personal watercraft are 75 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than models of only four years ago, and are meeting EPA 2006 standards well ahead of schedule.”

Personal watercraft are family vessels, purchased by many of the 195,000 boat-owning Oregon families who want to spend a day together on the water, and have found personal watercraft to be affordable, approachable, and easy to store, transport, and maintain. The average buyer today is around 40, and 3- and 4-seat personal watercraft are the fastest-growing segment.