59
MAY 2026
PVA INTRODUCES 
NEW PITTING PLATE 
ASSESSMENT TOOL
PVA recently released an exciting new 
software program that will help PVA 
members strengthen their preventa-
tive maintenance programs. The PVA 
Pitted Plate Assessment Tool (PPAT) 
is a free resource to assist in maintain-
ing hull integrity. A direct example of 
the contributions of the QP, the PPAT 
was developed by a joint PVA/Coast 
Guard QP working group to help 
passenger vessel operators and others 
evaluate hull pitting and document 
their findings before receiving a Coast 
Guard inspection. 
Work group developers, such as 
Captain Bob Bijur of Island Queen 
Cruises, felt strongly that there need-
ed to be a way for operators to not 
only measure existing hull condition, 
but to build this capability into exist-
ing vessel preventative maintenance 
programs. In using the PPAT, vessel 
operators and marine Inspectors can 
make better maintenance decisions 
that saves time and money. 
The newly released PPAT provides the 
following benefits to users:
• Demonstrates proactive hull 
monitoring between Coast Guard 
inspections
• Provides quantitative data to 
support alternatives to “crop and 
renew” plate replacement
• Challenges or supplements a Coast 
Guard finding with independent, 
methodology-backed data
• Prioritizes which areas of the hull 
need immediate attention versus 
continued monitoring
• Builds documentation in advance of 
a formal repair proposal
The PPAT working group is quick 
to caution that the new tool does not 
replace the use of a qualified marine 
surveyor or a Coast Guard inspector. 
They do point out, however, that using 
and incorporating the PPAT into your 
ongoing 
preventative 
maintenance 
program provides data that will allow 
you to propose defensible alternatives 
to full plate assessment when circum-
stances permit. 
If you would like to explore all that 
the new PVA Pitted Plate Assessment 
Tool has to offer, go to passengerves-
sel.com. The icon for the PPAT is in 
the upper right-hand corner of the 
opening page. I hope that you find 
this exciting new member benefit to 
be useful.
In the meantime, please let me know 
whenever we can be of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
John R. Groundwater
Executive Director
PHOTOS FROM LEFT: DAVE ANDERSON, RICHARD PATCH

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.