b'SAFETY MATTERS SAFETY Regulatory Committee Update ERIC CHRISTENSEN // PVA DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS & RISK MANAGEMENTT he Regulatory Committee metlicense.HeacquiredhismastersinCybersecurityintheMarine in-person on Jan. 26, 2025, inbusiness administration while work- TransportationSystem(MTS) Savannah, Ga., in advance ofing with Entertainment Cruises (nowThis notice of proposed rulemaking the PVA Convention at MariTrends.CityCruisesbyHornblower).Hes(NPRM)soughtpubliccomment The Regulatory Committee is respon- been involved with PVA since 2016.on what the U.S. Coast Guard pro-sible for assessing and developing PVAWhanger joined Charleston Tours &posedasminimumcybersecurity commentstoproposedrulemakingsEvents in 2019 and resides in Mountrequirementstohelpdetectrisks thatpotentiallyaffectdomesticpas- Pleasant,S.C.,withhiswifeSarahandrespondtoandrecoverfrom senger vessel operators. At that meet- and their two children. cybersecurityincidents,including: ing, Captain Steve Jones with Gatewayrequirementstodevelopandmain-Clipper Fleet handed over committeeChristianWirginisisthevicepres- tainacybersecurityplan;designate chair duties to Captain Dave Whang- identofoperationsattheGatewayacybersecurityofficer;conduct erwithCharlestonTours&Events.ClipperFleetinPittsburgh,Pa.Histraining exercises and drills; and take In addition, Christian Wirginis withgreatgrandfatherstartedthecom- various other measures to maintain GatewayClipperFleetassumedthepanyin1958andWirginisproudlycybersecuritywithinthemarine duties of committee vice chair.continues as the fourth generation totransportationsystem.PVAscom-lead the company alongside his fathermentsfocusedonthebroadscope NEW LEADERSHIP and sister. With comprehensive expe- and cost of the NPRM, especially for CaptainWhangeristheseniorvicerienceacrossmanycustomer-facingsmall businesses with limited cyber president of operations and sales withroles.Wirginisbringsawealthofexposure. PVA also encouraged the CharlestonTours&Events,asmallhands-on knowledge to managing theCoast Guard to allow cybersecurity family-owned business. They operatehiring and operational aspects of thecompliance guidance to be part of an bus tours as Adventures Sightseeingbusiness. Additionally, he is a quali- alternativesecurityprogram(ASP) in Charleston, S.C., and day trips tofied mate of the Three Rivers Queen.such as the PVA ASP. The Regulato-CharlestoninMyrtleBeach,S.C.Wirginis joined the Regulatory Com- ry Committee distributed a template Theyalsooperatepassengervesselmittee in 2019. He is also co-chair oftoassistmemberswhomightbe tours across a fleet of seven vessels asPVAs Rivers Region. He sits on theaffectedbytheregulationssothey Charleston Harbor Tours in Charles- boardoftheWaterwaysAssociationcould easily comment to the docket.ton,S.C.;CapeFearRiverboatsinof Pittsburgh. Outside of work, Wir-Wilmington, N.C.; Hampton Roadsginis cherishes spending time with hisRecordkeeping & Reporting Re-Harbor Tours in Hampton, Va.; andtwo young sons, aged two years andquirementstoDocumentEnvi-HudsonRiverCruisesinKingston,three months, embracing the joys andronmental Compliance on Certain N.Y. Whanger started in the passen- challenges of fatherhood.CommercialVesselsThisCoast ger vessel industry as a deckhand inGuardnoticesolicitedpublicinput 2002withSpiritCruisesandspentRECENT REGULATORY on how to improve the recordkeeping 17 years with them in Norfolk, Va.,ACTIVITY and reporting requirements currently andtheWashington,D.C.,metroIn 2024, the Regulatory Committeein place for the Environmental Pro-area. He obtained his first merchantreviewedandprovidedcommentstection Agency (EPA) vessel general mariner credential in 2005 and cur- onseveralfederalrulemakings.permit.Thiswasdoneinadvance rently holds a 200-ton inland masterThese included: oftheirdraftingenforcementguid-35 APRIL 2025'