b'LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTAT THE HELM Operations: An Activity that Involves All Divisions of an OrganizationBOB BIJUR // PRESIDENTW hen I am asked what part of the passenger vessel businessmaintenance products, food service containers, and serving materials. that I work in, I always respond that I work in operations.Improvements in processes that help us track oversight and compliance I am glad that most of the time that says enough, and Iwith regulations on operations and maintenance will be high on our do not have to describe all the things that operations involves. It is aPVA agenda for 2022 and beyond. One of these is our own Flagship challenge to answer this question because operations means differentSMS program. Adopting a safety management system could provide things depending upon the size and scope of each marine business. Forsignificant enhancements to your operation. example,therearedegreeprograms in marine operations that deal withPVA members and staff are our best re-big shipping within the marine trans- PVA members and staff aresources to help us address challenges in portationsystem.Thesecompaniesour day-to-day operations. PVAs new-oftenhavethousandsofemployeesour best resources to helpestcommittee,thePVAEngineering andmultipledepartments.Attheus address challenges in our andTechnologySubcommittee,met same time, there are so many differentthis month to organize, set priorities, jobs that fall within the realm of smallday-to-day operations.and address the first item of concern, passenger vessel operations, especiallyPVAs participation in the Coalition within the PVA membership, whichAgainst Illegal Tampering. This is an are handled by a small number of employees who are not formally de- important issue for members as outlined in a letter to the PVA Board partmentalized. An operations center for some of these organizationsof Directors by Subcommittee Chairman Mike McElroy, Wendella (like ours) is a closet that houses all the hats required to be worn to getSightseeing Boats:the operation going and keep it running. The increased potential for cyber-attack or unauthorized manipu-The amazing part of being a member of PVA is having the opportu- lation of control systems settings. nity to gain insight into how to solve operational challenges no matter the size of your operation. PVA members, large and small, are alwaysThe reduction in accountability for the protection of sensitive willing to share their knowledge with fellow members. Very often thesettings and calibration. solutions offered by a small operator will be helpful to a large operator and vice-versa. The potential for emissions standards to be violated throughunauthorized manipulation of source code and fuel mapping. We have all seen and experienced a multitude of complex operational challenges over the last few years. While markets are briskly reopen- The potential for critical warnings, engine history, and alarms to ing and travel demands are well underway, the impact of a highlybe bypassed or erased.competitive and reduced labor market has prevented our operations from getting up to full throttle. Many of us have adapted by havingThe potential for inadvertent purchase of used equipment that non-traditional operations personnel from sales and marketing, hu- has been tampered with.man resources, accounting, and even owners lend a hand to maintain operations even at reduced ridership levels. Ironically, the previous dis- There will be more detail about the activities of this new PVA subcom-cussions about the aging workforce has been replaced with the ques- mittee in a follow-up article in FOGHORN. tion where is the workforce? This is a very serious and impactful problem that all PVA members are now facing. In the coming months,All PVA committees support operations and the members of those the PVA Board of Directors and staff will be aligning resources fromcommittees make up the best that are involved in their own vessel op-within our membership, both vessel and associate members, to developerations. We are very fortunate to have this knowledge base and the region meeting and convention educational sessions that involve pro- skilled staff to guide and oversee their focus. I highly recommend that fessionals from management, human resources, and recruiting, to helpyou to get involved in a PVA committee. Being apart of the solution to us cope with this ongoing problem.an operational challenge is very rewarding.Inaddition,wewillexploreotheroperationalchallengesincludingThis month, I was fortunate to have been invited to attend the recent how to cope with supply chain shortagesfood, parts, and new equip- historic commandants change of command ceremony at U.S. Coast mentas well as technological advancements that will lessen the impactGuard headquarters in Washington. This was by far the most impres-on our environment such as renewable energy that will reduce our car- sive and meaningful change of command that I have ever attended. The bon footprint, and incorporating recycled consumables for cleaning andceremony was presided over by the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Continued on page 39FOGHORN 4'