Page 25: of Marine News Magazine (February 2024)

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Feature

Passenger Vessel Safety

Interestingly, in the Flagship docu- certain passenger vessels. growing commuter traf? c. “In addi- ment, PVA acknowledges and thanks • Crew shortages have caused tion,” he added, “several small U.S. the USCG for its help in developing a operators to change schedules. overnight cruise and ferry operators “voluntary alternative safety manage- Obviously, there’s no passenger are building new vessels, which is a ment system for the domestic passen- safety without required staf? ng. sign of industry health.” ger vessel industry.” PVA is working with many of the

Ferries: Heavy traf? c

One recent legislative change forc- maritime academies to promote ca-

According to U.S. Bureau of Trans- ing the USCG to be more responsive reers in the passenger vessel industry.

Groundwater said these challenges portation Statistics (BTS), ferries to NTSB recommendations is a re- in the U.S. carried 132 million pas- quirement within the “James M. In- exist within generally positive busi- hofe National Defense Authorization ness conditions. In an email he wrote sengers in 2019, provided through

Act for Fiscal Year 2023,” signed by that the U.S. passenger vessel industry 760 terminals on 1,106 unique route segments in 40 states, three U.S. ter-

President Biden in December 2022. has largely recovered from the CO- ritories, and two Canadian Provinces,

That requirement directs the USCG VID-19 pandemic, and some opera- tions report revenue at or exceeding using a ? eet of 839 active vessels. Six- to submit to the NTSB a report, with- in 90 days, whether the USCG agrees 2019 levels. He said that dinner boat ty-seven percent of operators reported that ferry transit was for work trips; with the NTSB’s recommendations, and charter operators report increas- partially agrees or does not agree. If ing corporate and group bookings, 59% for recreational destinations.

Internationally, that passenger vol- the USCG agrees it has to outline and the ferry industry has pointed to the actions it will take to implement

NTSB’s recommendations.

NTSB was asked about that direc- tive and new USCG reports. Gerbis said, “The Coast Guard now has staff dedicated to handling internal and external safety recommendations like ours.” The NTSB transmitted Safety

Recommendations M-23 (3,4 and 5) to the USCG on October 24, 2023, ? les pertaining to the ? re aboard the

Spirit of Norfolk. The NTSB received the USCG’s initial response in mid-

January 2024.

Bigger vessels

The Passenger Vessel Association is a national trade and advocacy associa- tion that works on behalf of its mem- bership. John Groundwater is Ex- ecutive Director. He was asked about

PVA’s top passenger safety issues. He mentioned two: • PVA expects the USCG to issue SMS regulations soon for www.marinelink.com MN 25|