MIASF teams with Google Street View providers to map South Florida’s waterways

Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) has announced a partnership with the region’s certified Google Street View content provider to launch a one-of-a-kind resource that will map the Intracoastal Waterway network, as well as many waterfront and land-based businesses.

Named Waterway View, the resource and its app are fully interfaced with Google Maps programming, giving boaters immediate access to information as they cruise. The Google Street View ‘blue line’ will follow the waterway, helping boaters choose their destinations with the benefit of visual familiarisation anywhere along the mapped waterways in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and portions of Monroe counties.

Phil Purcell, CEO and president of MIASF, which owns the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, said, "Known as the 'Yachting Capital of the World' and home to the largest concentration of refit and repair businesses in the U.S., there is no better region than South Florida to launch this exciting new platform for boaters.

"This is an incredible opportunity to add another tool to the toolkit of the marine industry in South Florida, which employs 136,000 people and produces an annual economic impact of $11.5 billion. 

"Just as Google Street View is a valuable instrument and a trusted way for businesses to connect with customers, Waterway View has the potential to be the most exciting new resource for the boating lifestyle, connecting boaters with restaurants, marinas, fuel docks, service and sales centres, and all the other resources they may need.” 

The Waterway View app – available for download in June 2018 – will be free from the Apple App and Google Play stores, and on MIASF's website. 

Waterway mapping begins in February in Broward County, with completion anticipated by summer 2018 in Key Largo. 

Google Virtual Reality partner, Jim Hilker said, "Florida leads the country in boat registrations and its waterways are used by locals and tourists every day of the year. This will be a very useful platform for experienced boaters, newcomers, and tourists looking to access the many locations available to them by water.”

Boat Owners Warehouse and MarineMax are to provide mapping boats for the project. Chuck Cashman, chief revenue officer for MarineMax and MIASF Anchor Member, said, "The goal of this initiative is to increase awareness on the waterways. Boaters can plan a day out on the water in advance through a visual familiarisation of local boating hotspots and boating-friendly businesses."

Waterfront and land-based businesses will have the opportunity to promote their businesses to the boating public through the Waterway View program, bookable through MIASF.

For more information, visit Marine Industries Associations of South Florida.

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