8 MARCH 2019 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: CONVENTION REVIEW Three Informative General Sessions As the MariTrends 2019 Exhibit Hall opened for the first time on January 17, David Norman, PVA Member Kitchen Public Relations, got conventioneers thinking with a spirited discussion on how to prepare for a crisis before one should occur. He strongly advocated for the creation of a solid crisis management and communications plan that is embraced by top management. Understanding the who, what, how, and when to act is the imperative to an operation’s longevity in the event of an incident, according to Norman. Top left: John Waggoner engages the audience with the tale of his acquisition of the American Queen. Top right: Attendees gather between educational sessions.; Left: Aon’s Courtney Jones chats with Patrick Murphy of Blue and Gold Fleet. ENGINEERING SERVICES GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY SERVICES To bring Crowley on board for your next project, contact us at 206.332.8090 or visit our website at crowley.com. PROJECT SERVICES An energetic speaker with a great deal of expertise on this important, but sometimes overlooked subject, Norman encouraged vessel operators to make creating a viable crisis commu- nication plan a priority for 2019. To assist PVAmembers, a crisis com- munications plan template is available online in the PVA Member Resources section at www.passengervessel.com. This tool can be used as the first step toward creating a personalized plan that works for your operation. Also during the Opening General Session, the Roger Murphy National Marine Safety Award and the Captain Elizabeth Gedney Passenger Vessel SafetyAward were conferred upon well deserving recipients. This year, Johnny Burman of Island Packers Corporation, Ventura, CA, won the Roger Murphy award for advocating a strong safety culture at the excursion operation that runs whale and wildlife cruises as well as ferries passengers to Channels Island National Park. And, Captain Michael Miller, Fire Island Ferries, Bay Shore, NY, won the Beth Gedney award, chosen by members of the PVA Safety and Security Committee from a crowded