The European Parliament Environment Committee on Tuesday voted on the 68 amendments proposed to the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD), proposing some engine emission policies that many marine industry officials said are unacceptable.

Many of the suggestions put forward by the ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) and its marine engine committee (IMEC) were adopted, to the satisfaction of ICOMIA Secretary General Tim Donkin.

However, Donkin is not entirely satisfied with the proprosal that a 2-tier rule be initiated for emissions compliance. The fact that there’s a different rule for the sea, open water and inland lakes is in his words, “completely unacceptable.” The RCD modification is supposed to make emissions rules for recreational craft standard across the board, making it not only cheaper and simpler for the industry, but for the user too.

The other main argument against this type of proposal is that it restricts the use of craft that are compliant in one situation to then be used in another. Fortunately, as it stands it is just a proposal, and will, no doubt, be subject to strong opposition.