b'LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTAT THE HELM Technological Innovations Advancing the Passenger Vessel IndustrySTEPHEN JONES // PRESIDENTW hen I started working at the Gateway ClipperPropulsionsystemsaremovingtowardhybridand Fleet back in 1987, I worked with an old-timeall-electricdesign,reducingfuelconsumption,noise, captain named Ernie Higgs. Ernie just workedemissions,andmaintenancewhileincreasingperfor-the luncheon cruises, he had to be 80 years young, andmance. Research into alternative fuels is paving the way when I would visit him in the pilothouse as a deckhand,for future zero-emission technologies.and more often as the senior deckhand, he would always have a story to tell about his younger days in his early teensAutonomous navigation systems are integrating AI and and how he got his start on boats.other automated systems to assist with navigation, dock-ing and collision avoidance.One of those stories involved him as a deckhand, standing on the head of a wooden barge being pushed by a steam- Following incidents like the Conception dive boat fire in boat. He would stand out there with a bucket of stones2019,regulationsandtechnologyhavefocusedonim-when they were pushing into a sloped bank and wouldproving fire safety, especially for vessels with overnight drop stones into the river, depending on the sound of theaccommodations.Newrequirementsincludeintercon-kerplunk he could tell the depth of the water as theynected fire detection and suppression systems, mandatory got closer to the bank. Maybemonitoringdevicesfornight thats just an old wives tale,watchmen and stricter rules for or maybe I was just gullible,Technologicalhandling flammable items, like butIbelievedhim.Eitheradvancements in thelithium-ion batteries.way, as a captain, he was one ofthebestboathandlersIsmall passenger vessel ThebenefitsofanAISarehave ever known.(SPV) industry aregreatadvancementsforpas-sengervesselsprimarilycen-Inowfindmyselfbeingthehappening fast, primarilytered on enhanced safety, im-oldtimertellinghorrorfocused on improvingproved navigation, and more stories about what it was likeefficient traffic management. runningaboat30yearsagosustainability, safety, andSomeenhancedsafetyand without todays technologicaloperational efficiency. collisionavoidanceadvance-advancements,suchasauto- ments include:maticidentificationsystem (AIS). Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday ISuperior situational awareness: AIS provides a virtual, was starting as a deckhandI digress. real-time map of all AIS-equipped vessels in the vicini-ty, including those that are out of visual or radar range. Technological advancements in the small passenger vesselThis allows bridge crews to see surrounding traffic (SPV) industry are happening fast, primarily focused onclearly, especially at night or in adverse weather.improving sustainability, safety, and operational efficiency. Innovations include the shift toward electric propulsion, Timely collision alerts: The system automatically cal- increasing vessel autonomy, and implementing advancedculates potential collision scenarios by analyzing the navigational and safety systems.speed, course, and proximity of other vessels. It then Continued on page 53FOGHORN 4'