b'inMay2023askedPVAtodrafttheComplaintsresolvedviaEqual component. By involving city, state,charterforafiresafetyworkinggroup. EmploymentOpportunity and revenue entities, illegal opera-ThatcharterwasdeliveredinJulybut Commission(EEOC)process tionscanbeidentifiedanddealtwithhas yet to be finalized by the Coast throughvariouschannels.Guard.TheCoastGuardcommitted Anyonewhohasaharassmentscenar-tohavingthecharterfinalizedbyJan- iotheycansharecancontactmeatPLATE ASSESSMENTuary2024andreadytostartwork. echristensen@passengervessel.com. PROJECTCaptainBijurcontinuestoworkwithSEXUAL ASSAULT AND COMBATING theCoastGuardandPVAmembersSEXUAL HARASSMENT ILLEGAL CHARTERS on a plate assessment tool designedCaptainMarkNeeland,chiefofthe Mr.Neubauerreportedthatworkis toprovideonthespotassessmentofOfficeofCommercialVesselCompli- wellunderwaytodevelopanational apittedplateareatodetermineiftheancediscussedthreenewpolicyletters policy and investigation framework plate is required to be cropped outandoneworkinstructiondesignedto toidentifyandpursueillegalpassen- andrenewed,orifitcanberepairedprovide clarity to the reporting and ger vessel operations. PVA has long ormonitored.Thiseffortwasorigi-other requirements associated with advocatedforsuchapolicysincewe nallyproposedinNovember2021.Arecent sexual assault sexual harass- seeonlypocketsofsustainedsuccess- web-basedtoolandinstructionshavement(SASH)legislation.Notallthe ful enforcement such as in Chicago beendevelopedandsubmittedtothenew policies apply to PVA member andSouthFlorida.PVAmemberslike CoastGuardforreview.TheCoastvessels,andsomepoliciesonlyapply CaptainBobBijurrecommendedany Guardnotedanareaofconcernwithto certain types of PVA member newpolicieshavealocalengagement the calculations and Captain Bijurvessels. Marine Safety InformationBulletin13-23providesanoverviewofthenewpolicies.Mr. Jason Neubauer, deputy chiefof the Office of Investigations andAnalysisreportedthatsincethelawwentintoeffectearlythisyeartherehave been 150 reports investigatedwithnocriminalreferralsyet.Sixtyofthereportswereforsexualharass-ment.Inthemajorityofcases,alco-holwasinvolved.AspartofaworkshopslatedforthePVA Annual Convention at Mar-iTrends2024inPortland,Ore.,Jan.2730,theCoastGuardwassolicitingthornyharassmentandSASHsce-nariostodiscussandrunthroughthereporting and investigative process.Somescenariosmayinvolve: Off-dutybehavior Patternsofharassment35 NOVEMBER 2023'