Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36AUGUST 2016 • FOGHORN 5 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Groundwater PVA’s success in urging Congress to repeal the one-size fits-all survival craft provision has saved PVA members hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary equipment expen- ditures. In addition, PVA’s far-reaching safety ac- tivities in promoting a safe industry resulted in the development of a variety of safety manuals and crew training tools intended to take industry safety practices to the next level. I am proud to report that current Coast Guard safety statis- tics support the fact that the U.S-flagged passenger vessel industry leads the world in safety. I believe the thing that sets PVA apart from other asso- ciations and organizations, is its dedication to serving the needs of members individually. Many refer to this as “case work.” Whatever the phrase, PVA is indeed unique in its willingness to work with members, one-on-one, to answer questions, help solve operational challenges or assist with regulatory challenges. PVA staff is literally on call to assist PVA members in need. On many occasions, PVA staff has directly consulted with members on Coast Guard topics, environmental concerns, ADA matters, security issues, drug testing questions and legal matters, to mention just a few. We welcome your inquiries and want to work with you to offer advice and guidance. The following is a listing of PVA issues staff for your reference: PVA has changed dramatically over the years. Our or- ganization continues to evolve as we anticipate trends. Our mission today is simple: “PVA is dedicated to promoting the interests and the economic well-being of U.S. passenger vessel owners and operators, while promoting safety and a secure maritime operating environment for passengers, crew and the travelling public.” We look forward to serving Providing Service Directly to PVA Members In addition to being members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), many of you are also members of other associations, including regional tourism groups, chambers of commerce and the like. All of these types of organizations, including PVA, are committed to furthering the interests of their members. Some do it by promoting a destination, marketing hotel rooms or by attracting group business. Others are strictly lobbying groups that focus on government issues. In many cases, such organizations, while successful, can become somewhat one-dimensional. Over the years, PVA, as an organization, has evolved to offer an ever-growing array of member services and assistance. This evolution is based directly on the ever- changing needs of a diverse membership nationwide. At PVA’s founding in 1971, a small group of passenger vessel operators in the Midwest came together because of a common need to identify reliable and affordable marine insurance. While they may not have specifically envisioned the advancement of theAon Endorsed Insurance Program, this important program has been providing comprehensive and affordable insurance to PVA members for many years. PVA’s founders also identified the need to establish a unified industry voice in dealing with the Coast Guard and to respond to what they perceived to be an increasingly hostile regulatory environment. From this simple wish list the PVA membership grew and, as a result, its menu of issues exploded. PVA’s regulatory advocacy activities have grown to be consistently strong. From the beginning, PVA vigor- ously advocated for industry interests and worked hard to identify reasonable solutions to the government’s regula- tory proposals. As a result, PVA was actively involved in the regulatory re-write of the Coast Guard’s Subchapter T and K regulations. PVA staff and members participated in hearings, special events and filed comments about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). PVA has worked closely with the Environment ProtectionAgency on engine emission standards, on the Vessel General Permit and in promoting engine emission funding grants for vessel operators. Today, PVA’s regulatory involvements are almost too numerous to list as government continues to propose regulations at an alarming rate. Also in the early days, the association’s leadership identified the need to expand its activities beyond regula- tory matters to include legislative work with Congress. One of the more impactful early legislative accomplishments for PVA dealt with capping Coast Guard inspection user fees. This one victory has saved PVA members thousands and thousands of dollars over these many years. Most recently, LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTINUED ON PAGE 33 Ed Welch Legislative Director 1-800-807-8360 ext. 27 ewelch@passengervessel.com Eric Christensen Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management 1-800-807-8360 ext. 26 echristensen@ passengervessel.com Peter Lauridsen Regulatory Affairs Consultant 1-757-495-2545 peterlauridsen@msn.com Jennifer Wilk Director of Public Affairs and Development 1-800-807-8360 ext. 24 jwilk@passengervessel.com Steven Bers PVA General Counsel and PVA Legal Hotline sbers@wtplaw.com