US Coast Guard Honours Two Marine Safety Leaders at NASBLA

Civilian honour for long service

The United States Coast Guard has recognised David Marlow of Brunswick and retired Mercury Marine engineer Peter Chisholm with its Distinguished Public Service Award. Brunswick announced the presentation on 25 September during the NASBLA annual conference in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The award is the Coast Guard’s highest civilian honour and recognises contributions to its missions over time. The announcement concerns recreational boating safety, a field with implications for yacht tenders, smaller vessels and equipment suppliers throughout the industry.

Standards and cooperation

Marlow, Brunswick’s Senior Director of Product Integrity, has served on the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee in several leadership capacities. The Coast Guard citation describes involvement in cooperation between regulators and boatbuilders, lifejacket use and voluntary safety standards.

The citation also refers to work involving engine cut-off switches, safer distress-signal alternatives and stronger safety practices. These are collective industry and agency initiatives, so an improvement in accident outcomes should not be credited to either recipient alone.

Engineering behind safer boating

Chisholm is a retired Mercury Marine engineer recognised alongside Marlow for his long-standing contribution to boating safety. The pairing highlights that prevention depends on engineering decisions as well as regulation, training and the way operators use equipment.

Superyacht operators commonly work with smaller craft, including guest tenders and support vessels, where practical safety arrangements remain important. Product-specific installation, manufacturer instructions and crew procedures still determine how any particular system should be used.

What the recognition records

The two awards are a record of service, not a new certification for a Brunswick product or a guarantee of safety aboard every vessel. Brunswick’s release identifies the recipients, the presenting Coast Guard officials and the NASBLA venue.

Owners, captains and managers can use the story as a reminder to review current tender equipment and operating practices rather than relying on a general industry accolade. The official Brunswick image accompanies the dated announcement, with technical rules remaining subject to the relevant authority and vessel.