AUGUST 2018 • FOGHORN 29 SAFETYMATTERS By Eric Christensen, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management W hat a difference a year makes. When I first wrote about illegal charters in the June 2017 issue of the FOGHORN, PVA was engaging the Coast Guard locally and at the Headquarters level to bring the issue to the forefront. Now we have the Coast Guard’s Deputy Commandant for Operations putting direction out to District Commanders that combatting illegal charters is a top priority. Sector investigators are working with local operators and port partners to develop public safety announcements and ini- tiatives such as “Ask the Captain” down in Miami where folks chartering boats are encouraged to ask the vessel Captain for a copy of their license or COI before chartering the boat. We have also seen large targeted operations where several illegal charters have been terminated and thousands of dollars in penalties assessed. PVA Engagement Over the last year, PVA staff have been invited to participate in local Coast Guard Industry Days across the country. One of the primary topics of discussion has been illegal charters. Through presentations and discus- sions with investigations personnel and industry participants we were able to highlight our concerns and learn what Coast Guard Sectors were doing to combat the problem. Some have been more successful than others, but all are taking this seriously. In addition, PVA staff met with the owner and senior staff of Boatsetter, arguably one of the largest boat sharing sites in the country. We impressed upon these folks that they needed to improve the policing of their site and make technical fixes to mitigate the blatant advertising of illegal charters. Progress on Combatting Illegal Charters PERFORMANCE MV Mendocino: Golden Gate Ferry 4-Engine Repower and Maintenance I Spring 2018 PERFORMANCE POWERYOUR PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE POWERYOUR 4-Engine Repower and Maintenance I Spring 2018 4-Engine Repower and Maintenance I Spring 2018 Marine Group Boat Works is the finest California boatbuilder and repairer of steel and aluminum high-speed ferries, catamarans and passenger vessels up to 220 feet-long.Operating two shifts, six days per week for fast turnarounds and minimized vessel time out-of-service. leah@marinegroupbw.com marinegroupbw.com | [619] 621-2220 Contact Leah Yam to quote or schedule your next haul out. SAN DIEGO, CA L E A R N MOR E AT SIMRAD-YACHTING.COM/HALO REVOLUTIONARY. See near and far, in an instant, with Halo Pulse Compression Radar.