b'STATE OF SHIPBUILDING: FOGHORN FOCUSTHE COVID YEARSBY KAREN RAINBOLT // FOGHORN MANAGING EDITORW theU.S.shipbuildingindustry?FOGHORN ith passenger vessel operations taking a hard hit from COVID-19, what effect has the global pandemic had on spoke with three PVA Associate member shipbuildersone in the Northeast, one in the Midwest/Great Lakes region, and one in the Pacific Northwestto find out how theyre faring and what they are projecting for the coming years. Peter Duclos Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Quest was built by Nichols Brothers, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding,an overnight small ship. Source: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. Duclos CorporationSOMERSET, MAGladding-HearnShipbuildinghasntbeenbuildingmany passenger vessels over the past year, due to COVID-19. But that hasnt stopped Peter Duclos, President and Director of Business Development, from keeping tabs on passenger vessel operators during the pandemic. Everything has been kicked down, but we have proposals on hundreds of vessels floating out in the marketplace that may eventually turn into building projects, Duclos said in a phone call. However, it will take time for the passenger vessel segment of the maritime industry to recover. Everything is being delayed, understandably.Prior to talking to FOGHORN, Duclos spoke to a PVA Vessel member, a ferry operator in Massachusetts, to check in and see how things are looking for the coming season. He has also heard encouraging news from multiple other PVA members.The ferry operator is cautiously optimistic that the summer season will be a pretty good one, but with COVID-19 restrictions still place, passenger counts may not be at full capacity for a while,saidDuclos.Then,theresacommuterferryinthe Boston area that was shut down last year because with everyone working remotely, there werent enough commuters to sustain the ferry that works in connection with the citys public transit Gladding-Hearn has built ferries for PVA Vessel member Woods Hole, Marthas Vineyard & Marthas Vineyard Steamship Authority. Credit: Gladding-Hearn ShipbuildingFOGHORN FOCUS 12 FOGHORN'