May 22, 2006, Edgewater, MD: The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) announced that on May 31, it will move its office from 3069 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, to:

The local phone number will be 410-990-4460, the local fax number will be 410-990-4466. Please update your records to reflect our new contact information.

The ABYC headquarters will be closed from the end of business hours on Friday, May 26 through Tuesday, June 6 for relocation. During this time, there will be intermittent phone service, and throughout this period staff will be checking and responding to email as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Business will resume at full capacity on Wednesday, June 7th.

ABYC President Skip Burdon said, "We are very pleased that this opportunity presented itself, and with how well the space meets our current and future needs. After leaving its Amityville, Long Island headquarters decades ago, ABYC will be returning to the waterfront, in the maritime community of Eastport. Eastport, which is located within the city of Annapolis, MD is an area where you find marinas, yacht designers, yacht brokers, boat builders, sail makers, marine surveyors, chandleries and crabbers — a perfect fit for ABYC's new home. ABYC is looking forward to being a part of this treasured maritime community as we continue to grow and expand our member services from our new location."

As part of the building dedication, the ABYC Foundation has also embarked on a fundraising initiative where individuals and companies can become Plank Owners of the new building. As a Plank Owner, donors will receive a "Plank Owner Certificate," and be appropriately recognized in the new building as a supporter of the ABYC mission. For additional information on becoming a Plank Owner, you may contact Caroline Chetelat at (410) 956-1050, or via email at cchetelat@abycinc.org.

ABYC has been developing, writing and updating the safety standards for boat building and repair in the United States for over 50 years. ABYC is actively involved with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as well as education and certification programs for marine technicians. These standards are available on CD-ROM, online (Web-STIR) and in printed form. Membership and general information can be requested by visiting the ABYC web site at www.abycinc.org.