21 August 2026
Australian distributor BLA receives Boating Industry Association Sustainability Award for introduction of UK-developed Oceans Assured™
UK marine manufacturer August Race™ is celebrating international recognition for its Oceans Assured™ initiative after Australian and New Zealand distribution partner BLA (Boating Lifestyle Adventure) was named winner of the Boating Industry Association (BIA) Sustainability in the Boating Industry Award.
The award was presented during a BIA Hospitality Event at the Sydney Boat Show, held at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.
The annual award recognises outstanding efforts by businesses promoting sustainable practices and supporting environmental responsibility within the boating industry, it was of especial note that a UK product was instrumental in the award being received.
BLA introduced the British-developed Oceans Assured™ range to Australia and New Zealand in March 2026, following collaboration with August Race™ to address a largely overlooked area of marine pollution prevention: the cleaning and maintenance chemicals routinely used aboard leisure vessels and subsequently discharged into the marine environment.
Our winner is an esteemed member of the BIA who, in March this year, took the decision to introduce a new product to Australia and New Zealand after recognising its potential to change how the leisure marine industry approaches pollution prevention. BLA identified a clear gap in the market for practical, scalable solutions that address marine pollution in a collaboration with August Race Oceans Assured.
Andrew Fielding CEO at BIAFielding also highlighted the wider significance of the initiative:
The BLA - August Race Oceans Assured product is not simply another environmentally positioned product range but a pioneering initiative tackling a widespread, overlooked challenge affecting waterways and aquatic life.
Addressing an overlooked source of marine pollution
Oceans Assured™ was developed following extensive research by August Race™ into the environmental classifications of cleaning and maintenance products marketed for use within the leisure marine sector.
As part of this research, August Race™ examined the Safety Data Sheets of 42 boat wash products and 36 bilge cleaners available to recreational boaters.
The findings showed that 69.1% of the boat wash products examined and 41.7% of the bilge cleaners carried aquatic hazard classifications.
The research highlighted a significant challenge for boat owners, marinas and marine businesses: products can be marketed or perceived as suitable for use around the marine environment while their underlying safety documentation may identify potential hazards to aquatic life.
Further engagement with flag states, maritime administrations and the International Maritime Organization established the relevance of MARPOL Annex V requirements to leisure vessels, including requirements concerning cleaning agents and additives contained within wash water discharged into the marine environment.
Despite this international regulatory framework, awareness of these requirements within the recreational boating sector has historically been limited.
From research to a practical industry solution
Oceans Assured™ was developed to provide the leisure marine industry with a practical and documented response.
The initiative incorporates a comprehensive range of MARPOL-compliant, Non-HME (Non-Harmful to the Marine Environment) valeting and operational maintenance products, supported by an industry-first digital compliance platform.
Rather than relying on unsubstantiated environmental positioning, Oceans Assured™ has been developed around evidence, transparency, traceability and regulatory compliance.
The supporting digital platform provides users with access to information including Safety Data Sheets, product specifications, environmental and LCA information, legislative guidance and supporting compliance documentation.
The objective is to make it easier for boat owners, professional operators, marinas and the wider leisure marine industry to understand both the products being used and the environmental requirements surrounding their discharge.
International recognition for a British-developed initiative
The BIA Sustainability Award represents significant international recognition for an initiative conceived and developed in the UK and demonstrates the increasing importance being placed on marine pollution prevention within the global recreational boating industry.
We are immensely proud to see BLA receive this award and to see the work surrounding Oceans Assured™ recognised by one of Australia's most important marine industry organisations. When we began investigating this subject, we discovered a significant disconnect between the environmental perception of many products being used around our waterways and the classifications contained within their own safety documentation. Finding aquatic hazard classifications on 69.1% of the boat wash products we examined demonstrated why we believe the industry needs greater transparency around what is actually being discharged into the marine environment. Oceans Assured™ was developed to replace assumptions and unsubstantiated environmental claims with evidence, documentation and a practical route to meeting the relevant MARPOL requirements. The response from BLA and the wider Australian marine industry has been exceptional. Andrew Fielding's description of Oceans Assured™ as a pioneering initiative tackling a widespread and overlooked challenge affecting waterways and aquatic life captures precisely what we set out to achieve. We congratulate the entire BLA team on this very well-deserved recognition and are incredibly proud to have them representing Oceans Assured™ in the region.
Peter Wallbank Group Technical Director at August Race™
The award follows the successful introduction of Oceans Assured™ to the Australian marine industry through BLA and reflects growing international awareness around the importance of understanding the environmental impact of the products used to clean and maintain leisure vessels.
About the Boating Industry Association
Established in 1960, the Boating Industry Association (BIA) is Australia's peak industry body representing the interests of the boating sector.
Its membership encompasses designers, manufacturers, importers, brokers, insurers, retailers, charter operators, yacht and boat clubs, marinas, events, surveyors and marine trades.
The BIA advocates for boaters and the boating lifestyle and supports safe, responsible and enjoyable boating across Australia.
The organisation reports that Australia's boating industry generates annual turnover of more than A$10.5 billion, supporting approximately 34,000 jobs across more than 2,000 businesses.