b'LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORPVA Fall Region Meetings AT THE HELMa Complete SuccessJOHN GROUNDWATER // EXECUTIVE DIRECTORI fyouattendedaPVARegionMeetingthisfall,you Theirinvolvementiskeytothesuccessofthesemeetingsknowthateachoftheseeventsofferedadynamicpro- yearinandyearout.gramoftopicsanddiscussionsaimedspecificallyatthepassengervesselmarket.Experiencedpassengervesseloper- Novemberhasusheredinawhirlwindofotherimportantators,expertsuppliers,representativesfromtheexecutive activitiesandeventsforPVAanditsmembers.APVACon-branchofgovernmentandtheCoastGuardallcontribut- gressionalFly-InandthePVA/U.S.CoastGuardQualityedvaluableinformationandadviceforthoseinattendance. PartnershipMeetingtoppedthelistofPVAadvocacy-relat-Inadditiontohavingexcellentinformationprovidedbya edactivitiesthismonth.varietyofhighlyqualifiedspeakers,Iwasparticularlyim-pressedwiththelevelofaudienceparticipationandinter- PVA CONGRESSIONAL FLY-INactionthatoccurredinallofourregionmeetingsthisyear. PVAmembersgatheredinWashington,D.C.,thismonthtoThesetypesofopendiscussionsareinvaluablebecausethey taketoCapitolHilltomeetmembersofCongressandtheirpromoteabroaderanalysisofatopicbyinvolvingmultiple stafftodiscussissuesofimportancetoPVAandthepassen-individualsintheoveralldiscussion.Memberscontribute gervesselindustryat-large.Thiswasthefirstfly-intobeheldpersonalexperiencesandoffersolutionstoreal-lifeprob- sincetheCOVID-19pandemicandPVAmemberswelcomedlemsfromwhichallinattendancebenefit. thisopportunitywithenthusiasm.RichardPatch,PVAsnewYOU MAXIMIZEAsyouknow,PVAsloyalassociatemembersparticipatein legislativedirector,providedabriefingforfly-inattendeesonwhattoexpectineachoftheirmeetingsandadditionallyandsupportourassociationinmanyways.Inadditionto coveredtalkingpointsaswell.ThefollowingareafewofthePRODUCTIVITY. attendingandmakingpresentationsoncutting-edgetop- issueswhichwerediscussedineachCongressionaloffice.ics,theyalsoprovidesupportbysponsoringoneormoreoftheregionmeetings.CERTSTaxReliefLegislationThanks must go to our PVA region chairs who helpedVesselSpeedLimitsandNorthAtlanticRightWhalesgreatlyinselectingsitesforourregionmeetings,workingWE BOOST EFFICIENCY. onprogramlogistics,andinrunningthemeetingson-site.SmallShipyardGrantProgramPlease join me in thanking the following companies who were 2023 PVA Region Meeting sponsors:FPT marine propulsion inline diesel and hybrid engines from 6.7L 350 HP to 16L 1,000 HPdeliver best-in-class performance, reliability, low noise vibration and harshness,All American Marine Charleston Tours & Events John Deereand high fuel efficiency. BAE Systems Detyens Shipyards Inc. Lake Express Hybrid diesel and electric marine engines Bell Power Systems Fire Island Ferries Marine Group Boat WorksBonek Insurance Agency Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi Northern Lights Keel-cooled and heat exchange options BRIX Marine Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding Padelford Packet Boat Company Best in class for slow speed torque Burger Boats Great Lakes Power Robinson & Son Fuel efficient and low noise (NVA) Catalina Express Interstate PowerSystems SeaCraft Design, LLC Best in class for extended maintenance intervalsFind your local dealer at fptindustrial.comC16 1000 Continued on page 5224/7 Care & Assistance:833-458-1378 815 HP @ 2000 RPM7 NOVEMBER 2023'