7 MAY 2026 T he Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) and the U.S. Coast Guard have a long history working together on the nation’s waterways. Their interactions have evolved with industry trends, technological advancements, and changing regulations. Over the years passenger vessel operators and Coast Guard marine inspectors have agreed on issues and they have also disagreed. But at the core, this relationship is grounded in a mutual respect and a commit- ment to safety and professionalism. In 1996, an important charter was signed by PVA and the Coast Guard that created the Quality Partnership Action Team (PAT); the precursor of today’s Quality Partnership (QP). Leaders from both organizations viewed communi- cation as a key to greater understanding and success, and with a growing recognition that maritime safety could be improved more effectively through collaboration rather than relying solely on enforcement and regulation. This new cooperative effort was dedicated to promoting safety while also protecting the marine environment and strength- ening communication between government regulators and passenger vessel operators through non-regulatory means. As originally intended 30 years ago, today’s PVA/Coast Guard QP allows leaders from PVA and the Coast Guard to meet to address operational concerns in an open, prob- lem-solving environment instead of reacting only after a disagreement or an accident occurs. Over the years QP working groups have been formed to solve pressing chal- lenges. These groups have included experts from each organization who analyzed data and employed extensive industry knowledge to develop logical and effective safety solutions. They have tackled a wide range of projects focus- ing on timely issues such as preventing slips, trips, and falls; fire safety; manning; and security to mention just a few. PVA’s current leadership and staff participated in a QP meeting in April with Coast Guard leaders in the first of two meetings to be held this year. The agenda was packed with topics of mutual interest. The meeting concentrated on the lack of prevention focus on Force Design 2028, Coast Guard inspector training, PVA Flagship program and Safety Man- agement Systems, marine firefighting, restoration of Coast Guard small boat stations, maintaining ATONS on inland waters, illegal charters, and cybersecurity regulations. JOHN GROUNDWATER // EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE HELM PVA/U.S. Coast Guard Quality Partnership Turns 30 Continued on page 58 PVA Vice President John Lake, PVA President Andrew Sargis, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral (Select) Robert Compher, and PVA Executive Director John Groundwater at the spring PVA/U.S. Coast Guard Quality Partnership meeting. PHOTO: RICHARD PATCH
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