b'ThelessonslearnedfromtheM/VJones reminded the Coast Guard thatThe admiral also stated that the pre-SAFETYSpiritofNorfolkfirehaveimpressedPennsylvaniaasaCommonwealthisvention (marine safety) workforce was upon us, the vessel operators, that theprohibitedfromhavinglocallawen- not as impacted by the 10 percent re-time is now to introduce our local fireforcementenforcethefederalRNA,duction as the boat forces community.departments to our vessels. We do notandthelocalCoastGuardAuxiliary want to meet our local firefighters forhas very limited authority. SEXUAL ASSAULT SEXUAL the first time while they are respond- HARASSMENTing to a shipboard emergency. Sargis echoed the sentiments of JonesSamms provided an update on sexual and stated that the real impact of los- assaultsexualharassment(SASH)re-SampleMemorandumsofUnder- ing a Coast Guard small boat stationportsandenforcement.Todate,287 standing (MOU) have been developedcrew in Chicago will be felt more whenreports have been investigated with 15 by members of the Safety and Secu- there are no events of national signifi- referred to the Department of Justice rity Committee. Once approved theycance in Chicago like the Democratic(DOJ) for criminal prosecution. While will be available on the PVA websiteNationalConvention,wherefederalno action was taken by the DOJ, the for members to use in engaging localresourcesfromalloverthecountryCoast Guard initiated suspension and emergency response organizations. were brought in to maintain security. revocation proceedings against the mar-iners credentials. At the National Mar-TheCoastGuardstatedthattheirMurphyreiteratedthatwhenPVAitime Center, 69 individuals have been investigations into the M/V Spirit ofmembersandstaffvisitmembersflagged in 2024 so far for SASH related BostonandM/VSandyGroundfireofCongresstheywillimpressuponissues including a serial pedophile. casualtiesshouldbecompletedandthose members the need to fully fund released by the end of the year. theCoastGuard,especiallythema- COMBATTINGrinesafetyfunctions.Arguinappre- ILLEGAL CHARTERSIMPACT OF COAST GUARDciated the support of PVA. He statedSamms reported that work is nearing STAFFING REDUCTIONS ATthe Coast Guard was down about 10completion on a Navigation and Vessel SMALL BOAT STATIONS percentoftheirworkforcestrength,Inspection Circular (NVIC) to imple-PVA Vice President Capt. Steve Jonesbutrecruitingtrendsarepromising.ment a national policy and investiga-and PVA Secretary Treasurer AndrewBoth2023and2024sawrecruitingtion framework to identify and pursue Sargis provided a brief on the impactgoalsexceededandthatmeanstheillegal passenger vessel operations. PVA Coast Guard small boat station closingssmall boat stations will get staffed uphas long advocated for such a policy and have had in their local port communi- again over time. The boats never left,welcomedthisnews.PVAmembers ties. Jones explained that in Pittsburgh,but there was nobody to operate them.remindedtheCoastGuardthatany he worked with the local Coast Guardnew policies have a local engagement MarineSafetyUnittoimplementaThe lessons learnedcomponent. By involving agencies with Regulated Navigating Area (RNA) injurisdiction(city,state,revenue,etc.), the confluence of three rivers, the Al- from the M/V Spiritillegal operations can be identified and legheny, Monongahela, and Ohio, in theof Norfolk fire havedealt with through myriad channels. downtown area to manage recreational boat traffic in the navigable channels. Itimpressed upon us, PLATEused to be that traffic and anchoring inthe vessel operators,ASSESSMENT PROJECTthe navigating channels would result inthat the time is now Capt. Bijur and his team continue to disruptions for commercial operations,work with the Coast Guard and PVA both passenger and towing. After theto introduce our membersonaplateassessmenttool RNA was in place and enforced by thelocal fire departmentsdesigned to provide quick assessment local Coast Guard station, traffic issuesof a pitted plate area to determine if significantlyimproved.Withthelossto our vessels. the plate is required to be cropped out of the small boat station crew in 2024,and renewed, or if it can be repaired or the situation has begun to deteriorate.CAPT. CHRIS MYERS monitored. Originally started in No-FOGHORN 46'