Page 20: of Marine News Magazine (January 2018)

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passenger vessels

DOMESTIC FERRIES

PVA: State of the Industry

PVA President Jeff Whitaker in December weighed in on his year as head of the nation’s passenger vessel advocacy group, where we are headed next, and what it will take to get there.

By Jeff Whitaker

The U.S. passenger vessel industry is rigorous strategic planning, PVA is developing programs looking forward to continued growth for member use while also promoting issues of importance in the coming months. The past year to industry at the national level.

was witness to solid economic condi-

LLEGAL HARTERS tions in the U.S., which added fuel to I C an already strong travel and tourism PVA and its members have long been committed to market, underpinning much of the safety. One area of growing concern to us is that of illegal

U.S. passenger vessel industry. Ferry charters. Illegal charter operations are on the rise in vir- ridership continued to be strong with tually every port in our nation and these operators pose

Whitaker ferry systems in the Northeast, Paci? c a growing threat to public safety. Illegal charter operators

Northwest, and San Francisco Bay ex- skirt essential Coast Guard regulatory and safety oversight, panding operations with new ferry vessels either being de- place the public in potentially dangerous situations and livered or under construction. compete directly with legal passenger vessel operators.

New vessel construction and acquisition also occurred We are also seeing a surge in websites that promote these in the U.S. ? ag overnight cruise market on the Nation’s illegal charter operations. These websites make it easy for rivers as this industry continues to expand. Following on recreational vessel owners to market illegal charters. In the success of 2017’s strong passenger ridership, passenger many cases, the vessels being offered for charter simply do vessel operators are optimistic for the future and are mak- not meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations. ing strong capital investments in building new vessels in As a result, PVA is strongly encouraging the Coast Guard shipyards nationwide. to pursue increased enforcement nationwide and we are

It has been my honor to serve as the 2017 President of ? nding that they are beginning to respond to our requests. the Passenger Vessel Association. While my term comes to This summer, the Coast Guard in Chicago boarded 39 rec- an end this month, I am both proud of and optimistic for reational vessels that were suspected of operating illegally. the future of the passenger vessel industry going forward. They issued 22 Notices of Violation and $50,000 worth

We are certainly experiencing sound economic conditions of ? nes. We applaud this effort and hope to see additional and we are also seeing exciting technological advancements enforcement activity in other U.S. ports. in the passenger vessel industry. Hydrogen fuel sources are being studied, more ef? cient battery technologies are C G RBDM & PVA’ F SMS

OAST UARD S LAGSHIP emerging, and new and more fuel-ef? cient vessel designs The implementation of Subchapter M is expected to and materials are being adopted. place increasing pressure on the Coast Guard’s already

Over the past year, we have also worked successfully with strained inspection resources. PVA, through lobbying ef-

Members of Congress and the federal regulatory agencies forts, is urging Congress to provide adequate funding for to represent our interests in Washington, DC, and to en- the Coast Guard’s inspection mission. The Coast Guard sure a positive business environment for passenger vessel and passenger vessel operators have closely worked together operators nationwide. With member input and through for many years to promote safe operations on our nation’s

January 2018

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