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regarding Lithium-ion battery installations for small pas- senger vessels. The group has begun work to develop mu- tually agreeable design guidance for future applications.

PVA is drawing on its members’ expertise including those professionals in marine architecture, design, construction, and operation. The goal is to create non-regulatory solu- tions to challenges facing both industry and Coast Guard.

C N G M

ONNECTING WITH THE EXT ENERATION OF ARINERS

Similar to the maritime industry at-large, PVA has heard from operators in ports all over the country about the challenges of hiring and retaining mariners. To assist its members, PVA has launched an initiative with several state maritime academies to connect operators with cadets.

Through this partnership PVA has learned that the cadets from these academies are not only specializing in education programs focused on traditional “deck and engine” majors, but also on positions in safety management, security, and environmental stewardship. Maine Maritime Academy and

Massachusetts Maritime Academy are now PVA Associate

Members, and we will continue our efforts to add addi- tional maritime academies to PVA’s membership roles.

HARING THE ATERWAYS AFETY DUCATION AND UTREACH

S W – S E O

It is no surprise to anyone that with a strong economy there are more boats on the waterways, both commercial and recreational. While this is certainly good news for all boating segments, PVA wants safety to remain a priority for all users as we share the Nation’s waterways. Over the years, PVA has been approached by passenger vessel opera- tors expressing their growing concern about crowding on the waterways and the need for recreational boaters of all types to understand and adhere to the rules of the road As a result of these calls-to-action, PVA is actively engaging with other organizations in the recreational boating safety industry to develop standards and to get them out to the boating public. We appreciate working with, and the ef- forts of, the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee, the National Association of State Boating Law Adminis- trators, the American Canoe Association (ACA), and the

International Water Sports Foundation.

Gus Gaspardo is President of Padelford Packet Boat Co. A found- ing PVA member, Padelford provides a wide variety of public cruises and private events on the Mississippi River with three pas- senger subchapter K vessels. Gaspardo attended Mankato State

University and joined Padelford as a deckhand in 1984 and ob- tained his Masters license in 1986. Gus and his wife purchased the company in 2016. Gus has been a previous Chairman of the

Regulatory Committee for PVA, and a past Rivers Region Chair. www.marinelink.com

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