8 March 2018 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: CONVENTION REVIEW Fast Page Loads Streamlined Checkout Multiple Account Sign-Ons Improved Search Quick Order Easy Invoice Look-up Requisition Lists • Over 135,000 products for your business • 28 regional distribution centers • Same-day van delivery • 250+ stores • The most-knowledgeable and seasoned sales representatives in the industry Your 24/7 destination that’s packed with the features you need to get the most out of your time and money. westmarinepro.com All backed by the power of West Marine Pro. 1-800-621-6885 or visit westmarinepro.com. Increased Inventory Availability passenger vessel industry. Even under the roof of the large Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, the meeting rooms were filled – many with standing room only – by conventioneers wanting to know more about our industry. Sessions on safety, workforce options and development, security, hybrid engine tech- nology, automation, sales and marketing, drug testing rules and regulations, community outreach, ticketing, insurance, preventative maintenance, finance, illegal charters, am- phibious vessels, credentialing, and much more, proved to be extremely popular and right on topic for what vessel operators need to know now. Federal regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation SecurityAdministration, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey were all involved in a variety of ways to interact with passenger vessel operators. “This was my first PVA convention and was a great opportunity to network with people from similar operations and learn from the well-presented programs.” PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2018 Attendee (LEFT) John Waggoner (far left) and Gary Frommelt (far right) of with the crew of the American Empress, recipients of the 2017 Captain Elizabeth J. Gedney Passenger Vessel Safety Award. (RIGHT) PVA 2017 President Jeff Whitaker recognizes the ASP Review Committee; Dave Anderson, Mike McElroy and Greg Gifford. (LEFT) L to r Chris Nolan,Jim Swindler and Jim DeSimone compare notes between convention sessions. (MIDDLE) Convention attendees visit with CAPTJason Neubauer following his presentation about the El Faro accident. (RIGHT) PVA attendees in Spear Power Systems’ MariTrends 2018 exhibit booth.