MARCH 2019 • FOGHORN 35 HOW PVA BENEFITS YOU guidance will save time with the ‘back and forth’ between the mariner and the National Maritime Center (NMC) by providing the medical evaluators with needed and relevant information.” However, the proposed manual did leave a number of questions unanswered, and PVA requested that the Coast Guard provide written clarification on a number of items. PVAwas particularly interested in better understanding the process surrounding the evaluation of a mariner’s fitness for duty when a medical condition has developed after a medical certificate has been issued. PVAalso asked how fre- quently the medical conditions listed will be reviewed and updated, stating that, “as medical advancements, improved treatment methods, and technology within the industry have allowed mariners with conditions once immediately disqualifying to continue to work and be valuable members of the crew.” Some time ago, PVA began focusing on the challenges facing the industry in assessing mariner fitness for duty. PVA members from around the country brought their pressing questions regarding real world applications of mariner medical evaluations to the association and PVA took action. These questions came from two primary points of view, one as marine employers and two as indi- vidual mariners holding a license and medical certifica- tion themselves. The issue was taken up by the PVA Safety and Security Committee, a dedicated group of volunteers who bring their years of passenger vessel safety experience and expertise to advise the association and develop work- products to continually improve the best practices of the industry. At the October 2017 meeting of the PVA Safety and Security Committee, the group discussed these member questions as well as heard directly from Coast Guard officials on the development of the guidance manual. Subsequently, committee leaders, and PVAPast President Dave Anderson, Fire Island Ferries, Bay Shore, NY, led a roundtable discus- sion at each of PVA’s 2018 Region Meetings to learn more about how other operators around the country are tackling the issue of mariner fitness and what further questions they might have. This conversation continued at a roundtable at the PVAAnnual Convention at MariTrends 2019 in January. PVA will continue to monitor these issues surround- ing mariner fitness and will keep members posted on final issuance of the Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Medical Manual. n Photo courtesy of Block Island Ferry • Real-time Onboard & Remote Monitoring •TotalVessel Maintenance Automation • Simplify Record Keeping & Invoicing •Track, Report & Archive Compliance Data • Real-time Onboard & Remote Monitoring Expand Your Fleet Management Capabilities gplink.com | +1.252.504.5113