b'SAFETYSAFETY MATTERSThe Quality Partnership UpdateERIC CHRISTENSEN // PVA DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS & RISK MANAGEMENTT he PVA/U.S. Coast Guard firepromptedadiscussionoffiresafety Norfolk should be completed andQuality Partnership (QP) within the industry. The NTSB had releasedbytheendoftheyear.Ad-met in person on Nov. 16, called out lack of fire detection and ditionally,theinvestigationintothe2023,inAlexandria,Va.TheQPisa suppressiononboardthevesselascon- fatal fire onboard the M/V Con-long-standing forum whereby senior tributingfactorstothecasualty,which ception could be wrapped up soonPVAandCoastGuardleadershipdis- resultedintheconstructivetotallossof followingtheconvictionofthevesselcussissuesofmutualconcernandseek the vessel. The NTSB also highlight- captain on seamans manslaughter.non-regulatory solutions to address ed communication issues within the The criminal investigation by thethose concerns. In her introductory UnifiedCommandandtheactionsof DepartmentofJusticehashamperedremarks,CaptainAmyBeach,direc- shore-basedfirefightersthatledtothe theCoastGuardsabilitytocompletetorofinspectionsandcomplianceat fire spreading throughout the vessel itsinvestigation.Coast Guard Headquarters stated, andburningforfourdays.ThelatterThese meetings are incredibly ben- issue has been a bone of contention PVA members in attendance dis-eficial, and reinforced the Coast withPVAmemberswhobelievethefire cussed their engagement with localGuardscommitmenttomaintaining couldhavebeencontainedtothema- firedepartmentsinthewakeofthetherelationshipwithPVA. chineryspacehadthedoorbetweenthe M/V Spirit of Norfolkfireandothergalley and machinery space not been vesselfiresoverthepastyear.CaptainONGOING INVESTIGATIONS openedbyshore-basedfirefighters. DaveAndersonwithFireIslandFer-ThereleaseoftheNationalTranspor- riesrecountedtheresponsetoafireontation Safety Board (NTSB) accident The Coast Guard stated that their oneofhisvesselsin2009.Communi-report on the M/VSpiritofNorfolkinvestigationintotheM/V Spirit ofcationisthebiggestissuefacedinanemergencyresponseandthatiswhydrillingwithlocalfirstrespondersisso critical. Drills will highlight thegapsthatneedtobemitigatedbeforethereisanincident.TheCoastGuardnotedthatalotofradioshavebeenpurchased with port security grantfunding, so there should be fewerissueswithinteroperableradios.TheCoastGuardalsohighlightedtheroleoflocalSectorcontingencyplannersinassistingwithdrillsandexercises.ForareaswithHarborSafetyCom-mittees and Area maritime SecurityCommittees, contingency plannersarepluggedintothosegroups.U.S. Coast Guard Captain Neelan and Captain Amy Beach and PVA President Jim Swindler andRelatedtotherecentfirecasualties,theVice President Captain Patrick Murphy lead the PVA/Coast Guard Quality Partnership meeting.Coast Guard at the last QP meetingFOGHORN 34'