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 324 SEPTEMBER 2016 • FOGHORN A Steady Course for PVA Members Consistency is extremely important in virtually all aspects of our business and pro- fessional lives. Consistently good service keeps our customers coming back and helps attract new customers. Consistency in employee training broadens understanding and helps improve safety. As PVA members, we benefit from the consistent and steady representation before Congress and the regulatory agencies that our association provides in Washington D.C. Dedicated member volunteers and staff craft positions on the issues that affect our businesses and then work tirelessly with legislators and others to ensure that our opinions are widely known and our business interests are promoted. In many cases, such work spans quite a few years as the wheels of progress in Washington D.C. turn very slowly. As you know, new government regulations can take from five to 10 years to work through the system from start to finish. This is why it is important that our associa- tion stays consistently engaged in our Nation’s Capital. PVA Victory on TWIC Reader Rule Last month, PVA achieved a major victory as the U.S. Coast Guard released its final rule on TWIC Readers. If you’ll recall, this rule was first introduced in 2006. PVA, then and now, was adamant that this equipment, if required, would be expensive, ineffective and would add unnecessary burdens on passenger vessel operators. Throughout this long process, PVA consistently stressed that our industry was not a high security risk. We pointed out that passenger vessels have always had a strong security orientation and that many operators additionally use the Coast Guard-approved PVA Alternate Security Program that establishes far-reaching security measures aboard PVA member passenger vessels. Since 2006, PVA members and staff have submitted comments to the docket on multiple occasions, testified at public hearings and conducted grassroots advocacy efforts to rally support for our position. The result of this coordinated effort is a final rule that largely exempts passenger vessel operators from the regulation.According to the new rule, vessels with 20 or fewer TWIC-holding crewmembers on a vessel’s Certificate of Inspection (COI) are exempt from the electronic TWIC inspection require- ment. Early in the process, PVA also urged that the crew- member number be increased to 20 from 14 and the Coast Guard did so. The final rule also removes from coverage all vessels that carry 1,000 passengers or fewer. In addition, facilities that provide service to vessels of 1,000 passengers or fewer are also exempted. I am delighted that the Coast Guard has supported PVA’s long-held position that TWIC Readers are unnecessary for the vast majority of passenger vessel operators. This victory will save PVA members thousands of dollars in equipment expense and will save hundreds of man-hours required to adminis- ter a new, and unnecessary, security system. PVA Succeeds in Shaping New FCC Radio Requirements I am pleased to also report another PVA success that occurred last month. As a result of PVA’s direct work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Coast Guard, PVA members can continue to use Class D DSC-VHF radios instead of having to purchase the more expensive Class-A units. In working on this issue, PVA, and PVA member companies, submitted comments to the FCC support- ing a request by the Coast Guard that passenger-car- rying vessels required to carry VHF radiotelephone equipment with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability be permitted to continue using Class D DSC-VHF radios in lieu of Class A equipment. Based on the input from PVA and other aligned maritime groups, the FCC agreed to issue a blanket waiver allowing for installation of the Class D radios. This is another great example of how PVA’s consistent and strong advocacy work results in substantial savings for PVA members. Your Continued Support of PVA is Important In August, you received an invoice for your 2017 PVA membership dues under the Summer Billing Program. PVA’s Board of Directors developed this program for the added convenience of paying dues when your business is most active. The successes that I have highlighted here are just two recent examples of how PVAis serving you. Over the years, PVA has saved members millions of dollars by assisting them in solving complex Coast Guard issues, de- veloping programs and products to improve operations, and combating costly and uncoordinated government regulation. I urge you to renew your membership today. Together we can accomplish a great deal in support of our busi- nesses and our industry. Sincerely, Sincerely, Margo Marks President n LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Margo Marks