JULY 2019 • FOGHORN 27 SAFETYMATTERS IMTRA COLORS 2016 Primary Use Secondary Use Blue Pantone 647 96C 54M 5Y 27K Pantone Cool Gray 7 20C 14M 12Y 40K Pantone Cool Gray 2 5C 3M 5Y 11K Black 0C 0M 0Y 100K Pantone 368 65C 0M 100Y 0K Pantone 629 36C 0M 9Y 0K The Trusted Source for Advanced LED Lighting NAVIGATION LIGHTS • DECK LIGHTING • ENGINE ROOM LIGHTS • SEARCHLIGHTS • CABIN LIGHTING 508.995.7000 www.imtra.com LED www.imtra.com good results, but without data, the Coast Guard is limited on what they can do. Illegal Charters The PVA position on illegal charters is clear: they are a public safety concern and combating these operations is a top priority. Illegal charters skirt the regula- tions designed to keep the public safe and not only put the public at unaccept- able risk, but some operations have also been found to be fronts for other illegal activity such as prostitution, illegal drugs, and money laundering. The Coast Guard has been stepping up their efforts to combat illegal charters and PVA fully supports those efforts That said, the Coast Guard can only investigate what is reported and the better the information provided, the more efficiently Coast Guard investiga- tors can work to build a case. Partnership In May of 2018, the Coast Guard asked PVA through the Quality Partnership, to collect information on close calls with recreational vessels. Both the PVA Regulatory and PVA Safety and Security Committees evaluated the issue and determined the best course of action would be for the Coast Guard to collect navigational close calls using the Coast Guard app. Work was already underway with the Coast Guard to update the Coast Guard app to report possible illegal charter operations, so this seemed like the right fit. The Coast Guard App T h e C o a s t G u a rd a p p w a s developed to assist recreational boaters to operate safely on the water. It has information on state boating require- ments, rules of the road, weather infor- mation, and scheduling a boat safety check. It also has the ability to report hazards. Since PVA considers both recreational boaters making bad or ill- informed navigational decisions and illegal charters as hazards, the app is a good tool to inform the Coast Guard. Using the “Report Hazard” function allows vessel operators to make a report and include information such as vessel name, position (Lat/Long), and even pictures of the hazard. The Coast Guard app has been updated to add illegal charters to the type of hazard that can be reported. Navigational close calls will be added later, but until then PVA has developed a reporting regime that is acceptable to the Coast Guard as an interim measure. The reports go to the Coast Guard Navigation Center in Alexandria, VA. From there, they are sent out to the appropriate Coast Guard Sector for action. Illegal charter information will be forwarded to the Investigations Division. Close calls will not only be forwarded to Sector Waterways Management staffs, but possibly to the Investigations Division for further action. Remember, interfering with the safe operation of a commercial vessel