We Understand Your Business

Owning and operating a business is like navigating a vessel. You must carefully plan your course and have a knowledgeable crew with the appropriate tools at their fingertips. The Passenger Vessel Association understands these needs and is prepared to provide you with the resources necessary to steer your business towards success. In addition, the Passenger Vessel Association offers members a wide array of staff services to assist in day-to-day challenges related to safety, security, Coast Guard issues and legal matters.

The following are just a few of the benefits of joining the Passenger Vessel Association:

• Access to My PVA – a secure, restricted “members only” area loaded with sample plans, programs and tools that are critical to improving your operations, including informative publications and resources and a full-range of useful crew training and safety manuals.

• Aggressive Government Affairs representation before Congress, the Coast Guard and other government agencies and departments – the Passenger Vessel Association saves you time and money. PVA has saved the industry more than $20 million over ten years by capping Coast Guard user fees for inspections. In addition, PVA has saved operators 10s of millions of dollars annually through its leadership on Subchapter T and K regulations. As government regulation and intervention grows at federal, state and local levels, rest assured that PVA will be there to ensure that your voice is heard and your interests are represented.

• Valuable vessel safety and risk management programs and counsel – The Passenger Vessel Association has a full-time risk management professional on staff who stands ready to assist you. Passenger Vessel Association and its members are dedicated to safe operation. In fact, PVA has lead the way in pioneering safety programs and training tools to continuously stress and elevate safety throughout the passenger vessel industry.

• The Passenger Vessel Association Endorsed Insurance Program, designed specifically to meet your insurance needs as a small business owner.

• For those operators that must comply with vessel security requirements under the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Passenger Vessel Association has a Coast Guard-approved Alternate Security Program for your use, the PVA Industry Standard for Security of Passenger Vessels and Small Passenger Vessels and their Facilities.

• Access to the Passenger Vessel Association Reference Library with documents that assist you to meet the regulatory requirements for the operation of a passenger vessel, from drug testing requirements to oil spill response plans.

• An opportunity to participate in a variety of association forums and activities, such as PVA Region Meetings and the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends, that offer networking and access to the latest operational products and services. All of the Passenger Vessel Association’s meetings are designed to provide you with valuable ideas, tips and information that members can adopt immediately.

• FREE Legal Hotline staffed by the Passenger Vessel Association's General Counsel for immediate consultation. The PVA Legal Hotline is an important service that allows members to get fast answers to pressing legal questions.

• Subscription to the FOGHORN – the Passenger Vessel Association’s monthly magazine includes feature articles and columns covering all aspects of passenger vessel operation.

• Valuable networking opportunities with hundreds of your colleagues. Peer-to-peer information exchange is a powerful benefit of the Passenger Vessel Association membership. Where else can you rub shoulders with leaders in the industry who are willing to share expertise and insight?

For ease and cost-effectiveness, the Passenger Vessel Association offers six membership categories:

• Vessel Membership
• International Vessel Membership
• Vessel Development Membership
• Individual Membership
• National Associate Membership
• Regional Associate Membership