b'OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATIONPRESIDENTJAN/FEB 2026 Sales + Marketing VOL. 25, NO. 1Steve Jones, Gateway Clipper Fleet,Pittsburgh, Pa.VICE PRESIDENT Andrew Sargis, Wendella Sightseeing Boats, Chicago, Ill.SECRETARY/TREASURERFeaturesJohn Lake, Hornblower, Alexandria, Va.BOARD MEMBERS8 Increasing Your Direct Bookings: Chris Anglin, Cross Sound Ferry, How A Functional andNew London, Conn. Successful Website Can HelpBen Bernstein, BB Riverboats, Newport, Ky. Grow Your BusinessErik Bombard, Catalina Express,San Pedro, Calif. A visually captivating homepage, easyJenna Deegan-Brown, Grand Lady Cruises, Inc.,navigation, positive customer reviews, and Buffalo, N.Y. an up-to-date and informative Google Jenny Gezella, Naples Princess, Naples, Fla.Business Profile are all pieces to the puzzle Carol Hill, Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry,of building an impactful and revenue-Key West, Fla. generating website for your operation.About the CoverChristian Myers, Interstate Navigation Company,A new luxury catamaran recently Wakefield, R.I. 14The Digital Mariner: joined the Kauai Sea Tours fleetSarah Pennington, Classic Harbor Line, The Future for Merchant in Hawaii. Read about the vessel New York, N.Y. Mariner Credentialing designed by Incat Crowther Tim Ratcliffe, Argosy Cruises, Seattle, Wash. The National Maritime Center hasand built by Breaux Brothers ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVESEnterprises Story on page 46. / Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding,redesigned its site and streamlined Photo: Incat CrowtherSomerset, Mass. the process for mariners to receiveTosca Pinder, USI Insurance Services, or renew their MMC for a quick and Seattle, Wash. secure experience. ColumnsPVA PAST PRESIDENTS Bob Bijur, Island Queen Cruises, Miami, Fla.204Presidents LetterBuilding Trust and Driving Jim Swindler, Golden Gate Bridge, Bookings: Lessons from 7Executive Directors LetterHighway and Transportation District,San Francisco, Calif.the Ticketing Experience 28Legislative ReportPatrick Murphy, Blue and Gold Fleet, A guests experience purchasing a ticket 30Safety MattersSan Francisco, Calif. is often their first interaction with your34U.S. Coast GuardEXECUTIVE DIRECTORcompany. It is an opportunity for you to John R. Groundwater build trust and confidence with them,36Newswire SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ADVISORboth key to developing a relationship for a42Member News Edmund Welch happy, and potentially repeat, customer.56Advertisers IndexLEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR Richard PatchREGULATORY AFFAIRS CONSULTANT Peter LauridsenDIRECTOR OF FINANCE Leslie KagariseDIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRSAND RISK MANAGEMENT Eric ChristensenGENERAL COUNSEL Steven Bers, Whiteford, Taylor and Preston Foghorn is published monthly, except combined January/February, by theEDITORIAL OFFICESPassenger Vessel Association (PVA), 103 Oronoco Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Va., 22314Managing Editor: Sarah FerrettiSend address changes to Foghorn at pvainfo@passengervessel.com.sarah@passengervessel.comCopyright 2026 by the Passenger Vessel Association. All rights reserved. No part of this571-388-7752 publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the Passenger Vessel Association.PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATION PVAINFO@PASSENGERVESSEL.COMPHONE: 703-518-5005'