b'AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT Captain Rob Compher, the com- workingwiththeEngineeringSub-There are always opportunities mandingofficeroftheMSCtoldthe committeetocompletetherevisionto improve safety in the marine QPthathisstaffwerereviewingthe oftheguidance.transportation system. A recent letter and complemented PVA forInspector General Report on the notonlyidentifyingtheissues,but Inhisclosingremarks,PVAPresidentCoast Guards management of the illustrating why there is a concern JimSwindlerstatedtheQPisahugeStreamlined Inspection Program andproposingspecificrecommend- relationship building opportunity(SIP) indicated significant gaps in edtextrevisions.CaptainCompher and PVA remains committed tothe measurement of the programs hopestohavethereviewcompleted working with the Coast Guard onsuccess. PVA members shared in- soonandstatedhelooksforwardto areasofmutualconcern.sightintotheirlocalCoastGuardsapprehensionandinthecaseofPVAVicePresidentCaptainPatrickMur-phy,opendiscouragementoftheuseofSIPbyvesseloperators.CaptainNeelandclearlystatedthatSIPisnotgoingaway,andtheCoastGuardiscommitted to improving the man-agementofSIP. Another topic raised for futureengagement was how PVA and theCoast Guard can work together indevelopingbestpracticestofightlith-ium-ionbatteryfires.PVAmembersdidnotseetheneedforanyadditionalregulations, but there are uniquechallenges when combating batteryfires.ThereareseveralCoastGuardunits and even one district that arelookingatbestpracticesandtraining,buttheredoesnotappeartobeanyheadquarters-leveloversight.Finally, to end on a high note, thePVA Engineering SubcommitteesubmittedaletterunderPVAPresi-dentJimSwindlerssignaturetotheCoastGuardMarineSafetyCenter(MSC)seekingrevisionstotheMSCelectrical plan review guidance re-garding the approval of decorativeand LED lighting. Current regula-tions do not address LED lightingandtheULlistingsapprovedbytheCoastGuardfordecorativelightingin climate-controlled spaces leavedesigners and architects wanting.37 NOVEMBER 2023'