Features Columns 8 The Maritime IRA: How the CCF Can Reshape Vessel Operator Finance Discover how the Capital Construction Fund can help transition a new vessel from drawing board to reality. 16 Let’s Go Holoholo: Designing and Building Cutting-Edge Vessels to Explore the Nāpali Coast An operator in Hawai‘i takes on building their own new vessels with a state-of-the-art material. 24 Getting Your New Boat Built: Key Lessons from Hybrid and Electric Ferry Projects Gain insights on how an operation can successfully transition to a hybrid or electric propulsion system. 32 Promises Made. Promises Kept. Eastern Shipbuilding Group Marks 50 Years Built on Dedication to Employees and High Standards People—from customers to employees to community members—are key to the company reaching a major milestone. 38 Celebrating America250: Honoring the Nation’s Semiquincentennial in Style from Coast to Coast See how PVA members celebrated this historic anniversary around the country. Foghorn is published monthly, except combined January/February, by the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), 103 Oronoco Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Va., 22314 Send address changes to Foghorn at pvainfo@passengervessel.com. Copyright 2026 by the Passenger Vessel Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the Passenger Vessel Association. PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATION PVAINFO@PASSENGERVESSEL.COM • PHONE: 703-518-5005 4 Letter From the President 7 Letter From the Executive Director 48 Legislative Report 50 Safety Matters 53 Regulatory Report 55 U.S. Coast Guard 56 Newswire 58 Member News 72 Advertisers’ Index OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATION VOL. 25, NO. 6 JULY 2026 PRESIDENT Andrew Sargis, Wendella Sightseeing Boats, Chicago, Ill. VICE PRESIDENT John Lake, Hornblower, Alexandria, Va. SECRETARY/TREASURER Ben Bernstein, BB Riverboats, Newport, Ky. BOARD MEMBERS Chris Anglin, Cross Sound Ferry, New London, Conn. Erik Bombard, Catalina Express, San Pedro, Calif. Jenna Deegan-Brown, Grand Lady Cruises, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. Jenny Gezella, Naples Princess, Naples, Fla. Carol Hill, Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry, Key West, Fla. Christian Myers, Interstate Navigation Company, Wakefield, R.I. Sarah Pennington, Classic Harbor Line, New York, N.Y. Tim Ratcliffe, Argosy Cruises, Seattle, Wash. Hannah Wirginis Roth, Gateway Clipper Fleet Pittsburgh, Pa. ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Somerset, Mass. Tosca Pinder, USI Insurance Services, Seattle, Wash. PVA PAST PRESIDENTS Jim Swindler, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, San Francisco, Calif. Patrick Murphy, Blue and Gold Fleet, San Francisco, Calif. Steve Jones, Gateway Clipper Fleet, Pittsburgh, Pa. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John R. Groundwater SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ADVISOR Edmund Welch LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR Richard Patch REGULATORY AFFAIRS CONSULTANT Peter Lauridsen DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Leslie Kagarise DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND RISK MANAGEMENT Eric Christensen PVA SENIOR REGULATORY AND PROGRAMS ADVISOR Lee Boone GENERAL COUNSEL Steven Bers, Whiteford, Taylor and Preston EDITORIAL OFFICES Managing Editor: Sarah Ferretti sarah@passengervessel.com 571-388-7752 About the Cover What started with one wooden fishing vessel has grown into a successful company with three shipyards and over 350 vessels built. Story on page 32. / Photo: Eastern Shipbuilding Group Shipbuilding
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