b'A History ofPVA AT 50NAPVO and PVABY BY ALAN BERNSTEIN BB RIVERBOATS, NEWPORT, KYI have been an active member of the Passenger Vessel Associationthough we were a small association, we had a big infl uence on the (PVA) since 1980, when PVAthen the National Associationmarine underwriters. of Passenger Vessel Owners (NAPVO)was revived as an active association. Most only know that NAPVO started in 1971, but notAt each subsequent annual convention, meeting rooms were packed, that NAPVO was relatively inactive between 1971 and1980 when theanddiscussionswereveryanimated.Theyremindedmeofwhat second annual meeting of the association was held. Since then, PVAyou might see on Wall Street at the height of trading. By the mid-has held an annual meeting every year. The main reason for establishing1980s NAPVO had developed a solid insurance program through NAPVO was to obtain reasonably priced group marine insurance. AtFiremansFundoutoftheSt.Louisoffice,thencalledLawton, that time, U.S. passenger vessel operators had an extremely difficultByrne and Bruner. If you have not picked up on the fact that this timeinsuringtheirvessels.ThenewassociationwasmadeupofwasaWesternRiversorganization,St.Louiswasthecenterof companies operating on the Western Rivers (Mississippi and Ohioour universe. rivers including all tributaries). The 1980 annual meeting was held in Hollywood, Fla.The following is a list of some of the main playersIn the latter part of the 1980s the association became more than just in that 1980 annual meeting (I apologize if I have left anyone out, buta group insurance club. We had elected a board of directors, we held this meeting took place 41 years ago).regular board meetings, and we conducted an annual convention. We were officially a functioning association. As NAPVO grew, theThe Mark Twain Riverboat Company, Captain Bob Lumpp winds of change started to blow harder, and managing the association became more demanding. After all, we were all volunteers who hadThe Kansas City Riverboat Company, Captain Dick Lynn businesses to run. The fi rst challenge was who would write articles for the FOGHORN and how big should the FOGHORN get. When IThe Memphis Queen Line, Captain John Lozier and Mrs.started in 1980, the FOGHORN consisted of one full-page of news Dale Lozier on the front page and a listing of all the Western Rivers bridge issues and closures on the back page. It was mailed to each member. ThatThe Gateway Clipper Fleet, Terry Wirginis andwas the total publication every month and was written by the currentZack DAlesandroNAPVO President. At that time, the NAPVO vice president wasThe Spirit of Dubuque, Bob Kehl in charge of organizing the annual convention including location, negotiating with a hotel, obtaining exhibitors, managing registrations,The Paddleford Packet Company, St. Paul MN,and more. This process started afresh every year with the election of aCaptain Bill Bowell new a new vice president. It was not until the 1990 s when I suggested that we create a small committee, whose members would not change,Gateway Riverboats, St. Louis Mo., Tom Dunn that would be dedicated to putting the convention together. They would learn how to organize this event so as not to reinvent the wheelThe Belle Carol Riverboats, Nashville Tenn.,each year. Dr. Hugh Claughton The next item that was infl uenced by the changing timess was theMr. John Weissman, who sold Captains hats, was theassociations name; NAPVO. The associations membership makeonly exhibitor up had evolved to include more than just owners of passenger vessel companies.Therewerealsoindividualswhowerenowapartof There were approximately 40 individuals in attendance. From thenthe organization who were operators, not owners. Some members on, each year the association grew at a slow, but steady pace. Marinethought that the name of the association should be changed to the insurance costs continued to rise and NAPVOs insurance programNational Association of Passenger Vessel Operators to better refl ect wasattractivetoothernon-memberpassengervesseloperators.the changing nature of the association.This suggestion caused a riffAsaresult,wereabletoattractnewmembercompanies.Even(to put it kindly) between the Owners and the Operators. I use the word riffbecause this discussion fell somewhere between a brawl PVA AT 50 24 FOGHORN'