AUGUST 2018 • FOGHORN 5 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Groundwater PVA Green WATERS environmental program and much more. I hope that you will renew your PVAmem- bership this month so that we may continue our active work in your behalf. We look forward to serving you in 2019 and beyond. PVA’s Fall Region Meetings An enticing line-up of PVA Region Meetings are being planned for PVAmembers this fall. These meetings will include a broad range of topics and activities aimed directly at the passenger vessel industry. When you attend, you can expect to get the very latest information on such topics such as: What Are Your Responsibilities Under ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) • What Service Animals Do You Have to Allow? • Wheelchair Accessibility • Vessel Design Requirements • Communicating with the Hearing Impaired Mariner Licensing and How to Avoid Delays How We Effectively Manage Your Coast Guard Inspection • Proactive vs. Reactive Illegal Charters: How to Combat this Growing Problem Public Relations Activities for Businesses of All Sizes • Essential Elements of Crisis Communications Knowing Your Drug and Alcohol Testing Responsibilities Dealing with Legal Marijuana Coast Guard Reconsideration and Appeals The View from Washington D.C. And, Much More! Plus, when it comes to passenger vessels, we have you covered with a range of vessel related activities and boat rides. I encourage you to register today. PVA Southeast Region Meeting September 18-19, 2018 Aboard Yacht Starship IV at Clearwater Marina 25 Causeway Boulevard Clearwater Beach, FL PVA Great Lakes Region Meeting October 22-24, 2018 Lilac Trees Suites & Spa Mackinac Island, MI Continuing Our Work on Your Behalf If you have been following the PV A Member Update lately, you have no doubt noticed that the range of government and other issues on which PVA staff and volunteers have been working continues to expand. In fact, much of our recent work is focused on relieving you and your company from a host of regulatory burdens. Some of this work has continued for quite a few years as the regulatory jug- gernaut moves very slowly. Nonetheless, we feel that we are making progress for PVA members. Following is an overview of some of the issues on which we have been actively working: • Provide More Flexibility to Extend Five-Year Drydock Intervals • Change the Required Interval to Service Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus to Once Every Two Years • Ease the Requirement for Radar Refresher Training • Gain Relief from the Burdensome Annual Reporting Requirement for Incidental Discharges of Wastewater in the Vessel General Permit • Exempt TWIC Reader Requirement for Facilities that Receive Passenger Vessels Only • Amend the NonTank Vessel Response Plan to Allow Small Passenger Vessels to Use an Approved Alternative Training and Exercise Program. • Amend Inland Navigation Rule 27 “Vessels Not Under Command” Requiring the Use of Day Shapes and Lights. • Gain relief from an Excessive Radiotelephone Rule for U.S. passenger Vessels Operating on the Great Lakes • Eliminate the Requirement that Vessels Operating on Inland Waters Must Carry Flares Summer PVA Dues Billing Program This month, you will receive an invoice for your 2019 PVA membership dues under the Summer Billing Program. This program was established years ago to give PVAmembers an opportunity to renew their membership when they were at the height of their operating seasons. Your continued support of PVA is so important as we tackle these and other issues for you. Your involvement allows the association to maintain a strong voice before Congress and the Regulatory Agencies in Washington D.C. and provides the resources necessary to maintain and develop new programs and activities that support PVA member businesses. Such activities include the de- velopment and expansion of members-only crew training programs, the Flagship safety management system, the LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTINUED ON PAGE 38