b'LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTPVA and the U.S. Coast Guard:AT THE HELMQuality Partnership Meetings COLLEEN STEPHENS // PRESIDENTT his year, PVA and the U.S. Coast Guard marked twenty-fi ve years Coast Guard Industry Training Update in which our organizations have consistently met twice a year Illegal Passenger Vessel Updateto discuss issues of importance to each in a non-regulatory environment.Aformalcharterwassignedbybothorganizationsin Cyber Tools and Resources Available to Passenger Vessel OperatorsJanuary 1996 which established what was then called the Partnership Coast Guards Tiered Passenger Vessel Inspection ProgramActionTeam.ReferredtotodayasthePVA/CoastGuardQuality Coast Guards Streamlined Inspection Program and Safety Partnership Meeting, or QP, this semi-annual meeting has remained an Management Safety Program Implementationimportant part of PVAs work in representing your interests before Coast Guard leaders. Importance of PVA Participation in Coast Guard MarineInspector Training The strength of this meeting is rooted in the fact that it provides an opportunity for representatives from PVA and the Coast Guard to comeI am a believer in the value of the PVA/Coast Guard Quality Partnership together and openly express opinions, highlight frustrations, and discussMeetings, and I look forward to a continuation of this important meeting for issues of common concern. I have had the pleasure of participating inthe next twenty-fi ve years. numerous QPs over the years and most recently, as PVAs president, I have had the privilege of leading the PVA delegation of members and staffwhoPVA 2021 REGION MEETINGS ARE NOW VIRTUALparticipate in these important collaborations.It was a difficult decision, but due to low attendance projections, continuing COVID-19 impacts, and a concern for the quality of these meetings for our TheQPismorethanjusttalk,itoff erssubstantialbenefi tsforourassociate members, it was decided by the board of directors that PVAs region industry. A variety of PVA/Coast Guard Working Groups have beenmeetings scheduled to be held in-person this fall should be conducted virtually. chartered because of QP discussions to undertake projects such as solvingWe recognize that after many months of separation by COVID-19 concerns complex fi re safety challenges, combating illegal charters, establishingthat it is important for PVA members to come together to exchange information designfeaturesforlithium-ionbatteryinstallations,anddevelopingand insights on the future. To ensure that we have such an opportunity, albeit guidelines to help stem the tide of slips, trips, and falls aboard passengervirtually, we have grouped several regions together in the hope that this will vessels, to name just a few.establish a valuable communications forum for PVA members. Our most recent QP meeting was held on October 6 and the agenda wasAlso, we have established a $50 registration fee for these meetings that allows comprehensive. I had the opportunity to brief the Coast Guard leadershipyou to register as many individuals in your company as you would like. This onthestateofthepassengervesselindustrystatingthatwhilePVAnominal fee applies to both PVA vessel and associatemembers. I hope that you members have seen an improvement in business climate in 2021, manyfi nd our virtual meetings to be helpful and productive. are still struggling to overcome the eff ects of the coronavirus pandemic. I stressed that PVA members have implemented aggressive COVID-19PVA Virtual Original Colonies/Southeast Region Meetinghealth and safety practices and that varying state and local mandatesTuesday, November 2, 2021havecausedoperationalcomplications.Istressedtheimportanceof9:00 a.m.12:30 p.m. E.D.Tcommunications between our two organizations and thanked the CoastDownload Meeting AgendaGuard for continuing to engage in the QP.Register HereRearAdmiralJohnMauger,thenewassistantcommandantforPVA Virtual Western Region Meetingprevention policy, who is responsible for the development of nationalThursday, November 4, 2021policy,standards,andprogramspromotingMarineSafety,Security9:00 a.m.12:30 p.m. P.D.T.and Environmental Stewardship discussed his priorities for his tour ofDownload Meeting Agendaduty emphasizing his focus on cybersecurity issues. We mutually agreedRegister Hereto address his concerns relating to passenger vessels stressing that our industryismuchdiff erentthanotherindustriesdeemedparticularlyPVA Virtual Great Lakes/Rivers vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. This will most likely translate into aRegion MeetingPVA/Coast Guard Working Group project to shed light on the extentFriday, November 19, 2021to which U.S. passenger vessels are a part of our governments concerns2:00 p.m.5:30 p.m. C.S.T.about cybersecurity assaults.Download Meeting AgendaOther topics discussed during this months QP meeting included: Register Here Underway Compliance Boardings by the Coast Guard Continued on page 34LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 FOGHORN'