June 19, 2016

The most prestigious awards program recognizing high quality marine electronics products has just gotten better. Changes and improvements have been made by NMEA’s Awards Committee in the NMEA Product of Excellence Awards and also in the NMEA Technology Award, all of which will be presented at the 2016 NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo on September 22 in Naples, FL.

Three new product categories-Commercial Products, Multimedia Entertainment, and Safety & Security have been added to the NMEA Product of Excellence Awards which are determined by a vote of NMEA members. These categories have been added to current, active categories that include Fishfinders, Radars, Autopilots, Multi-function Displays (MFD), Satellite Communications Antennas, Marine VHF Radios, Satellite TV Antennas, AIS, Underwater Lights, NMEA 2000 Sensors, Marine Apps – Aids to Navigation, Marine Apps – Utility, and Marine Cameras. Manufacturers who wish to nominate products must do so on the NMEA website by Friday, July 15, 2016. On-line voting will begin on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.

A separate award, the NMEA Technology Award, honors a single product as the most innovative among those nominated by manufacturers. The NMEA Technology Award is selected by an independent panel of judges appointed by the NMEA Awards Committee. The make-up of that panel has been changed to include two NMEA Certified Marine Electronics Technicians (CMETs) and three marine electronics journalists. The panel will assess products and select a winner on-site at the 2016 NMEA International Marine ElectronicsConference & Expo. Manufacturers who wish to nominate their flagship product must do so on the NMEA website by September 2, 2016.

“We’re all excited about this year’s enhanced awards program,” said Mark Reedenauer, NMEA President & Executive Director. “Like in 2015, we will see companies win awards that might not have been recognized before. The addition of three new categories reflects the technology expansion in the marine electronics market. Most significantly, the addition of a commercial award category strengthens NMEA’s expansion into the high seas and commercial market. We welcome any commercial manufacturer to become part of NMEA and enter their products.”

The NMEA Awards Committee will carefully screen the products to ensure they qualify for the category in which they are entered. All NMEA members get one vote per category. Additionally, NMEA accredited installers and technicians who have passed the NMEA’s MEI, AMEI, NMEA 2000, Advanced NMEA 2000, or CMET tests can vote independently within their respective member company.

Details on participating in both the NMEA Product of Excellence Awards and NMEA Technology Award are available on www.NMEA.org.