b'LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTAT THE HELM Advocacy, Partnership, and Education Shape a Successful YearSTEPHEN JONES // PRESIDENTIbelieve that I am sitting here writing my finalmembers of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, cant Foghorn article as PVAs 2025 President. This year hasor their staff, to discuss industry concerns including a fully truly flown by. resourced U.S. Coast Guard safety mission, increasing fund-ing for the Small Shipyard Grant Program, bolstering the Looking back on 2025, the association focused heavily onU.S. maritime industry through the SHIPS for America Act, regulatory reform, safety enhancements, economic growth,andadvocatingforadditionalfederalinvestmentinferry and sustainability. It is impossible to sum up the entire yearprograms such as the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in just one article but here are a few of the highlights. Passenger Ferry Grant Program and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Ferry Boat Formula Program.ADVOCACY AND REGULATORY REFORMThe primary focus of the 2025 term was urging federalSAFETY AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCEauthorities to reduce outdated regulatory burdens. Safetyremainedoneoftheassociationscoremissions throughout 2025.Regulatory ReliefInOctober2025,PVACoast Guard formallycalledforbroadThe Quality PartnershipPartnershipreformstoimproveindus- The Quality Partner-tryefficiency,specifically fosters transparency,ship (QP) has proven targetingtheTransporta- tobeaneffective tionWorkerIdentificationimproves dialogue, andmechanismforjoint Credential(TWIC).Theindustry-government associationarguedthatleverages the expertiseaction in a non-regu-TWIC is costly and offerslatoryenvironment. limitedsecurityvalueforof both the regulatorItfosterstranspar-manydomesticoperators,ency,improvesdia-suggesting that the existinglogue,andleverages PVAAlternativeSecurityand the industry tothe expertise of both Programmoreeffectivelytheregulator(Coast addressessafetyconcerns.achieve a shared goal ofGuard)andthe Othertopicsincludereliefindustry(PVA)to fromcertainreportingenhancing safety. achieve a shared goal requirementsforVesselof enhancing safety.IncidentalDischargeAct (VIDA) and providing more flexibility to extend the five- Combating Illegal Chartersyear drydock interval regulation, just to name a few. The association reported significant progress in 2025 in targeting illegal charter operations that pose safety risks to Legislative Engagement the public. For the first time, the Coast Guard agreed to do The 2025 PVA Congressional Fly-In took place on April 29,a study on the negative impact that illegal charters have on bringing together PVA members and staff who met withthe domestic passenger vessel industry.Continued on page 50FOGHORN 4'