Formed in 1972, the ICOMIA Marine Engine Committee (IMEC) is the trade association representing 14 recreational marine engine and personal watercraft manufacturers worldwide. IMEC has a Service Agreement with ICOMIA, the international trade association representing the global marine industry since 1966.
At the recent Annual General Meeting in Ostend, Belgium on 19 April, IMEC representatives unanimously voted in Jeff Wasil as Chair of the committee; Wasil is currently responsible for marine outboard engine emissions testing and certification at BRP Evinrude. Tom Tveitan, senior engineer at Volvo Penta, was voted in as Vice Chair.
“Recreational boating and fishing has important social and economic benefits and is a passion enjoyed by so many people around the globe”, stated the newly appointed Jeff Wasil. “IMEC has the opportunity to work alongside global regulators to create meaningful marine engine regulations, which not only protect the environment but also ensure the recreational boating experience is preserved. I`m so excited to work alongside the many great leaders in our industry who serve on this international committee – and I`m honoured to be appointed as chair”.
Together with the committee’s observer, NMMA, and its Joint Diesel Task Force with EUROMOT, IMEC is able to collate the opinion of all engine manufacturers concerned by marine leisure emission rules.
“IMEC has been at the forefront of all recent legislative developments to regulate engine emissions by establishing trusted and constructive relationships with regulatory bodies. We have succeeded in applying virtually the same limits in the US and EU and in promoting them in other areas where they are being drafted” explains Udo Kleinitz, ICOMIA Secretary General.
Kleinitz adds, “We are pleased about the appointment of Jeff and Tom as respective Chair and Vice Chair of IMEC. Following our recent meeting, we agreed a tight working schedule in order to address a number of topics that will require the full attention of the marine engine manufacturing industry.”
IMEC represents the following companies:
AB Volvo Penta, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc (BRP), Cummins Inc., ILMOR Engineering, Inc., Indmar Marine Engines, Honda Motor Europe Ltd, Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V., Mercury Marine, Nanni Industries SAS, Selva SPA, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Tohatsu Corporation, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. and Yanmar Marine International B.V.
IMEC’s current projects include:
Globally emerging Engine exhaust and sound emission regulations Statistics gathering Monitoring, and if applicable, representing engine manufacturers at relevant EU legislative processes such as the Recreational Craft Directive, Machinery Directive, etc, leading to the development of: Engine manufacturers’ plates and declarations of conformity Operating engine relevant standards: ISO Small craft standards within TC 188 SC2 – ISO 18854 Test bed measurement of gaseous and particulate exhaust emissions from reciprocating internal combustion engines Electronic steering systems and engine controls Graphical symbols Dedicated engine and product type related task forces