15 AUGUST 2026 Capt. Mike McElroy has served the passenger vessel industry for 38 years. In addition to his role as the di- rector of marine operations and regulatory affairs, he is the designated person for Wendella’s flagship SMS. He satisfies his passion for safety, security, hospitali- ty, and the environment through engagement as the co-chair of his Area Maritime Security Committee, as president of the Chicago Harbor Safety Commit- tee, and as the co-chair of the HSC National Steering Team. He is the recipient of the U.S. Coast Guard meritorious public service award three times and the PVA Roger Murphy Safety Award for contributions to marine safety through development of training programs that target an increase in safety culture. CAPT. MIKE MCELROY DIRECTOR OF MARINE OPERATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, WENDELLA SIGHTSEEING BOATS AND CHICAGO WATER TAXI About the Author local knowledge. I have found that in serving on our HSC that a good part of my time is translating the regulatory language we speak in order help other unregulated sectors understand the why and the how of port management. The remainder of my time is spent building bridges between the solos of our agency partners. As PVA members, we val- ue partnership and see how important that is to elevating safety for all. Other Harbor Safety Committees throughout the nation are making progress in addressing risk within their ports and waterways. There are currently around 50 HSCs across the nation. The oldest is in the Port of New York/ New Jersey, which purports to have formed in 1914. The youngest was formed only a few months ago; and seven have formed in the last two years. This network is support- ed by the HSC National Steering Team, which serves as a guiding body HSCs can turn to when they need support. The mission of the HSC National Steering Team is to pro- vide information, guidance, and inspiration to support the establishment, development, and sustained excellence of HSCs nationwide. The HSC National Steering Team has helped establish five new HSCs in recent years (with several more in de- velopment) and is responsible for organizing the biennial National Harbor Safety Conference. The most recent conference was hosted in March 2026, by the Puget Sound Harbor Safety Committee in Seattle, Wash. A key theme that emerged from the conference was the desire to improve information sharing across ports, and this will be an area of focus for the HSC National Steering Team moving for- ward. If you would like more information, want to identity your local HSC, or are interested in forming one in your community, reach out to noel.t.jones@uscg.mil to engage the National Steering Team. If you would like to talk more about how PVA members can make a huge impact in har- bor safety, I can be reached at mcm@wendellaboats.com. PHOTO: MIKE MCELROY Our waterjets represent the pinnacle of all-round operational efficiency, agile manoeuvrability, for swift turnarounds, and durability. www.hamiltonjet.com DOCK TO DOCK EFFICIENCY
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