The Innovation Awards, organized by National Marine Manufactures Asoociation and judged by Boating Writers International, recognize those products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other products currently being manufactured; benefit to the marine industry and/or consumer; practicality; cost-effectiveness; and availability to the consumer within 60 days of award receipt. A total of 55 new products were entered in this year's IBEX awards program.

In the OEM Electronics and Electrical Systems category, judges presented the Innovation Award to Sea-Fire Marine for its Sea-Fire Control Panel, designed and manufactured by Blue Marble Solutions. Through its monitoring of fire, heat, smoke and carbon monoxide levels in the engine room, Sea-Fire's panel offers enhanced safety for most boats. In the presence of danger, the system can shut down a boat's engines, cut off fuel supply and close vents to stop a fire before it really starts.

"From a technological standpoint IBEX is always interesting, and the show is particularly outstanding in terms of bringing new products to the marketplace," says Roger Marshall, Innovation Awards chair, president of BWI and U.S. editor of The Yacht Report. "In looking at the Innovation Awards products this year, this is the best group of entries we've seen in a long time."