We regularly attend Superyacht UK seminars, often held conveniently at national boat show events, to ensure that we keep up with the standards and specs of this lively sector. Somewhat surprisingly, discussion on standards, and standards themselves, are often conspicuous by their absence.

When we’re designing bespoke electromagnetic assemblies for superyacht applications like electric lock-down and general on board security, it’s always a struggle to get to meet the designer or the customer’s representative of a superyacht to discuss specifications. On the few occasions we do make contact, there are rarely standards in place for lower-level items like locks. The industry hasn’t got round to dealing with them yet.

Now, on the one hand that seems like a curious oversight; it certainly doesn’t help us in developing specifications to unify our designs across marine applications, which would save everybody money. On the other hand, it puts us in a great position to help drive new standards.

At Superyacht UK seminars, attendees are encouraged to come forward with standards that would be appropriate for the industry. That’s music to our ears. Our expertise in marine applications is already extensive, and we’re more than happy to share it. There are many critical factors to consider when locks and holding devices are used at sea, including seal technologies, corrosion resistance, environment issues, usage of power, the formation of salt crystals in mechanisms, etc.

We’ve dealt with all this many times over. So we’re continuing to contribute to the definition of standards and specifications – for the benefit or all.