Those electing not to use the PVA alternative security standard must develop a Vessel Security Plan and submit it to the Coast Guard for approval.

"This is a significant achievement for the passenger vessel industry and a major benefit for the Passenger Vessel Association members," said PVA President Gary Frommelt. "It means that the Passenger Vessel Association members will have direct access to a security program that has already been thought through for them. They will have a viable and effective tool that will allow them to efficiently enhance their organization's security, while helping to meet the security needs of our Nation."

The Coast Guard has attached a Security Sensitive Information (SSI) designation to the PVA Industry Standard for Security of Passenger Vessels and Small Passenger Vessels and their Facilities. As a result, the Passenger Vessel Association must institute a careful distribution procedure for the document.

Here's how to obtain a copy of the PVA Industry Standard for Security of Passenger Vessels and Small Passenger Vessels and their Facilities:

Only PVA Vessel Members in good standing are eligible to receive the PVA alternative security standard.

• Click here to download, complete, sign, and return to PVA headquarters (via fax, mail, or email) together with a copy of the Certificate of Inspection for each vessel that will be included in the Program.
• This form is also available by calling PVA Headquarters at 1-800-807-8360.
• When the completed form is received by PVA, you will be sent a CD that contains the PVA alternative security standard.
• For security purposes, and for proprietary reasons, members cannot share this document with anyone outside of their organization. In addition, once the member's 2004 dues are paid, PVA will send a certificate, listing the included vessels and confirming active PVA membership for that calendar year. This certificate verifies your PVA membership for a calendar year and validates your alternative security plan for the Coast Guard.

PVA Members, other than Vessel Members.

• Because the Coast Guard has attached a Security Sensitive Information designation, and because the Vessel Security Plan requirement applies directly to the Passenger Vessel Association vessel members only, the Passenger Vessel Association is willing to consider requests for the PVA Industry Standard for Security of Passenger Vessels and Small Passenger Vessels for members other than PVA vessel members only on a need-to-use basis, at the discretion of the PVA Board of Directors. An associate or individual member desiring to receive a copy of the PVA Industry Standard for Security of Passenger Vessels and Small Passenger Vessels should send a brief letter to PVA Headquarters stating their desire to obtain a copy and explaining its intended use.

TSA Security Training Program

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has created a great tool for passenger vessels. If you operate a vessel or a facility that is subject to the Marine Transportation Security Act, the TSA has created a computer based training program that will make it easy to meet the training requirements in MTSA.

TSA worked together with the National Transit Institute and the PVA Safety and Security Committee to develop this tool, based on the Security System Awareness for Passenger Vessels course that has been successfully taught to many PVA members.

Please contact the Passenger Vessel Association office if you would like the DVD. Please let us know how many copies you might like.

PVA Training Manuals and Tools

The Risk Management Manual for Passenger Vessels
A multi-part manual, containing information on various topics that will assist you in all aspects of vessel operations: Logbook basics, how to manage hazardous waste, conducting a safety audit, a guide to AIDS and HIV awareness, how to reduce slips, trips and falls, how to create and use effective safety announcements, how to design contingency plans, how to reduce crew accidents, how to conduct safety meetings, how to conduct effective drills.

Contact PVA for a copy of this manual.

Training Manual for Passenger Vessel Safety
A second multi-part manual, providing you with a basic training template for all crew.

Contact PVA for a copy of this manual.

Click on the title below to review the documents.

Preventive Maintenance Checklists
This set of Preventive Maintenance checklists gives you an excellent risk management tool to establish a maintenance program. This will pay back dividends to the operator who uses it. These checklists are tools to assist operators to implement a complete Maintenance Program for all areas of the vessel.

Safety Calendar
A monthly calendar with useful reminders for operators and their staff. Vessel safety checks, important maintenance reminders, safety meeting suggestions and safety tips.

PVA Risk Guide
Being aware of any potential risk, and knowing how to effectively control that risk is the goal of this guide. Developed by a team of the Passenger Vessel Association members and U.S. Coast Guard staff, this guide provides you with a step-by-step means of assessing risk within your operation and helping you develop ways to reduce or even eliminate those risks—making your operation safer.

PVA "T/K Manual"
In 1997, the Coast Guard completed a 12-year long revision of the small passenger vessel regulations. This guide is an essential for each operator of a small passenger vessel. A composite of all preambles, history, intent and thought processes behind the regulations is accompanied by the regulations that existed before 1997. If you own a vessel built before 1997, add this manual to your library.

Streamlined Inspection Program
The Streamlined Inspection Program (SIP) is a voluntary alternate method of inspecting a vessel to ensure regulatory compliance. Instead of the traditional Coast Guard inspection by a marine inspector, the SIP allows onboard and shoreside vessel operating personnel to conduct the majority of inspections required by the CFRs, and to have the adequacy of these inspections verified by Coast Guard marine inspectors on a regular basis. Visit http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/sip/siphome.htm to find out more.

Materials for Checking Drug and Alcohol Testing:
History of Prospective Employee for Safety-Sensitive Position
You are required, as a marine employer to seek to obtain the drug and alcohol testing history of a prospective employee for a safety-sensitive position on a vessel. To assist you in complying with the Federal rule, PVA has created three templates for your use.

Videos/DVDs

Each PVA video has been written, filmed and produced by members of the Safety and Security Committee, with help from members of the PVA. Each video is accompanied by a manual to assist you with your training. Each video/manual can be ordered for $15.00 and are available to members of PVA only.

PVA Fire Fighting
Filmed on member vessels, this video and manual assist in training your crew in firefighting, prevention and education. After viewing the video, the candidate may study the manual and be tested on their knowledge. Also a good tool for continued training for seasoned crew.

Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
To assist you and your crew in reducing these very common types of injuries, this video goes through the entire typical vessel, from boarding, to stairs, to deck coverings, assisting you in "accident proofing" your boat. As with all videos, the manual is then available for the crew to review and be tested on their knowledge.

Personal Safety for the Crew Member
To train and educate your crew about personal safety, members' vessels and staff are used to demonstrate safe activities and actions, and the use of the correct personal safety gear. It will educate your new crew as well as provide an excellent review for your experienced staff.

Line Handling
While stressing the importance of vessel safety, this video provides information regarding deck equipment, basic knots and line handling techniques and terminology important for every new deckhand, the demonstration by member's employees provides a "must have" training tool for every operator. This video is also accompanied by a manual for review and testing of the employee.

Public Documents

Rail Jumper Safety Amendment
Federal law enables the Coast Guard to assess a stiff fine against someone who deliberately jumps from a passenger vessel or a person who operates a jet ski in a way that endangers a passenger vessel.