Joint NMMA-IMCI Meeting Strengthened International Certification Alignment
NMMA hosted a joint inspectors meeting this week in Chicago, bringing together NMMA inspectors and representatives from the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI), a European notified body, for a collaborative session focused on marine certification, compliance oversight and international alignment.
The meeting served as a forum for reinforcing consistency in inspection practices, reviewing regulatory updates and addressing emerging industry challenges. Inspectors from across the program shared field insights, discussed interpretation of standards and worked to ensure certification processes remain transparent, consistent and aligned with both domestic and international expectations.
“The combined meeting created an important opportunity for inspectors from both organizations to collaborate directly, share technical expertise and promote greater consistency in the application of standards across regions,” said Scott Berry, NMMA vice president of engineering standards. “As manufacturers continue to operate in an increasingly global marketplace, alignment and open dialogue between certification bodies becomes even more important.”
This year marked the first time NMMA and IMCI combined their inspector meetings, providing an expanded international perspective and strengthening coordination between U.S. and European certification bodies. The collaboration supported improved mutual understanding of standards, reduced duplication of effort and created greater efficiencies for manufacturers operating in global markets. Representatives from the United States Coast Guard Office of Recreational Boating Safety also participated in the meeting, contributing additional regulatory perspective and supporting ongoing dialogue around boating safety standards and compliance coordination.
“The partnership between IMCI and NMMA is a cornerstone for boat manufacturers worldwide seeking global compliance for exports to the U.S. and the EU,” stated Ulrich Manigel, IMCI managing director. “Thanks to the unique opportunity offered by the combined IMCI/NMMA inspection, this is the most cost- approach. We are proud to celebrate nearly 30 years of collaboration with NMMA.”
Overall, the joint NMMA-IMCI inspectors meeting represented an important step in advancing international cooperation and strengthening safety and quality standards across the recreational boating industry.
To learn more about NMMA Certification, visit https://www.nmma.org/certification