b'FOGHORN FOCUSMatt NicholsNichols Brothers Boat BuildersFREELAND, WANational Geographic Quest carres up to 100 guests on its overnight voyages. Morethanayearintothepandemic,NicholsBrothersBoatCredit: Nichols Brothers Boat BuildersBuilding is fi nding new work in the passenger vessel industry to be a rough slog. Matt Nichols, Executive Vice President of Sales who has been building passenger vessels for decades, is optimistic that once passenger vessel operators resume service after the negative eff ects of the pandemic ebb away, there will be a need for new vessels. And, hell be ready. Were just coming offfi nishing some projects that were started before COVID-19 shut everything down, so were able to take on new ones whenever owners call, Nichols said. Although the shipbuilder was an essential service and never shut down (Nichols Brothers Boat Builders has contracts with the U.S. Navy and also off ers repair service), Nichols says the past year has been diff erent than any other.Hydrus was a joint building project with Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and Kvichak. Credit: Nichols Brothers Boat BuildersWestillhadworkinthefi shingandgovernmentcontract segments, but the passenger vessel market has been very quiet, heremarked.Dinnerboats,excursionvessels,younameiteverything just stopped overnight.Nichols acknowledged some positive steps that aid his optimism for the near future. The Biden Administrations support of the maritime community was on display on January 25 when newly inaugurated President Biden signed the Buy American Executive Order to support the Jones Act and the U.S. maritime industry was seen by Nichols as a positive step for American shipbuilding.That was good news, he said. It was good, clear, and it protects our industry.NicholsalsorecognizedtheimportancethattheMaritime Nichols Brothers Boat Builders built what is now known as American EmpressAdministration (MARAD) off ers through its shipyard grants asin 2003. It now cruises the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Credit: Nichols well as federal relief assistance available now for small businessesBrothers Boat Builders. during the coronavirus crisis. Its been tough, but were still kicking! Nichols reported after saying These MARAD grants do help, said Nichols. And, so has thehes looking forward to putting this year behind him and moving ahead PPP (Paycheck Protection Program). to better days. FOGHORN FOCUS 16 FOGHORN'