b'SAFETY MATTERS:Getting Back Underway SAFETY ARE YOU READY?ERIC CHRISTENSEN // PVA DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS& RISK MANAGEMENTT he2021operatingseasonpromisesto Did you maintain the Certifi cate ofonboardfordrills,requirementswerelikely befarbetterformostoperatorsthanInspection (COI)? issuedbytheCoastGuardthatneedtobe 2020.Having limited to no operationscleared before passenger operations can resume. in 2020 directly impacted operators regarding Did you seek and receive a drydockIfyourvesselwaslaidupandtheCOI vessel readiness and crew training.In addition,extension?surrendered,youwillneedtogivetheCoast theCoastGuardputoutaseriesofnoticesGuard notice and submit a new application for regarding the extension of mariner credentials Are your systems such as fi re, bilge,inspection.If the vessel was merely mothballed including medical certifi cates.Getting a handlesteering, etc. operating properly? withnorepairsoralterationsdonetothe on all that disruption will be key to getting backvesselwithoutCoastGuardoversight,then into operation smoothly. Ihaveadvisedmemberstokeeptheannualthereactivationprocessisstraightforward. COI inspection schedule with their local CoastIfthingschangedthentheprocessismuch VESSEL READINESS Guardinspectionoffice.Mostinspectionmoredifficultandmayimpacttheabilityto There are key questions you need to ask yourselfofficeswereabletoconductin-personand/ grandfatheranexistingvessel.Ifyouhave as you prepare to reopen:or virtual inspections throughout 2020.Thisquestions or concerns, please contact PVA staff .allowsforaquickerresumptionofserviceIfyoureceivedadrydockextension,itmayWere some of your vessels idle during thewithoutthedelaysofschedulingaCoastnot be refl ected on the COI.Hopefully, you 2020 season? Guard inspection.If crew members were notreceivedaletter,certifi cateamendment,or replacementCOIfromtheCoastGuard, butifnot,rememberthenewdrydock date!Onceavesselispastduethedrydock inspection date, it will not be allowed to carry passengersuntilthedrydockiscompleted.Stuffhappens when vessels sit idle, and you want USCG-Certied Light-Weightto make sure everything is operating properly before taking passengers on board.For regulatory Aluminum Honeycomb Panelscompliance,theCoastGuardhasrecently published revisions to their inspection guides for Passenger Ferries (aka 840 Books).Those guides are available in the Member Download area of the PVA website. decorative | durable | functional MARINER CREDENTIALS/FITNESSrigidized.com/markets/marine Overthecourseof2020theCoastGuard issued Marine Safety Information Bulletin 08-20 and four changes to address the extension ofMerchantMarinerCredentials(MMC) andmedicalcertifi cates.TheCoastGuard NationalMaritimeCenter(NMC)extended credentials and medical certifi cates due to the unprecedentedimpactofthepandemicon themaritimeindustryandtheCoastGuard workforce.Mariners, along with employers, need to be aware so that only properly credentialed mariners can operate inspected passenger vessels. MerchantMarinerCredentialsmayonlybe extendedforuptooneyearfromtheirdate ofexpiration.MerchantMarinerCredentials (MMC) (National Endorsements and STCW) 658 Ohio Street | Buffalo, NY 14203 | marine@rigidized.comSAFETY MATTERS 28 FOGHORN'