4
FOGHORN
Sharing Ideas, Exploring Innovations, 
and Building Momentum
T
he maritime industry is currently navigating a 
period of exciting transformation, and the PVA 
Annual Convention at MariTrends 2026 served 
as a definitive roadmap for this transition. Hosted at the 
Northern Kentucky Convention Center, the event was a 
friendly gathering designed to address the intersection of 
legacy operations and technological innovation. From the 
first committee meetings on February 21 to our final gala 
on February 25, the agenda prioritized execution, regulato-
ry strategy, and technological integration. For me, as your 
president, this convention was more than just a meeting; it 
was a masterclass in how we, as an industry, maintain our 
momentum even when our federal partners are sidelined.
The 
strategic 
ground-
work began on Saturday 
with a deep dive into our 
legislative and regulatory 
backbone. Richard Patch 
convened the PVA Legisla-
tive Committee for a day of 
collaborative discussion on 
U.S. Coast Guard priorities 
and the upcoming Surface 
Transportation Bill. The 
bill offers a lot of exciting 
possibilities 
and 
oppor-
tunities for ferries and 
shipyards. Meanwhile, Eric 
Christensen led the Safety 
& Security and Regulatory 
Committees, in a combined 
packed-house meeting that 
defined the compliance landscape for the next fiscal year 
and discussed several upcoming training resources. These 
intensive working sessions were balanced by executive 
networking at our welcome reception, and an exclusive 
leadership dinner provided the necessary environment for 
peer-to-peer alignment.
However, the tone of our opening general session on Sun-
day was undeniably shaped by the empty seats where our 
U.S. Coast Guard partners should have been had Congress 
approved a Continuing Resolution on time to fund the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Coast 
Guard. While we expected Commandant Kevin Lunday as 
our opening general session speaker to discuss Coast Guard 
priorities, the reality on the ground was a total absence of 
leadership from the DHS. Needless to say, I am extremely 
frustrated with our elected leaders, legislative and execu-
tive, for allowing this situation to occur, especially when 
we are working so hard to move our industry forward. It 
is deeply disappointing to me that, for the second year in a 
row, safety has been depriori-
tized within the Department 
of Homeland Security.
In the vacuum left by this 
situation, 
Congressman 
Thomas 
Massie 
stepped 
in as our opening keynote 
session speaker with a level 
of support that was truly 
refreshing. He reiterated his 
unwavering commitment to 
the Jones Act and the Pas-
senger Vessel Services Act 
and demonstrating that he 
truly understands the impor-
tance of the Coast Guard’s 
safety mission. His presence 
reminded us that while the 
DHS may be failing us, we 
still have strong allies in Washington. Former NTSB Board 
Member Todd Inman further hammered this point home 
during his session, “When Minutes Matter: Risk, Resil-
ience, and Responsibility,” where he echoed the critical 
nature of a robust safety framework. It seems everyone in 
our industry agrees that safety is the Coast Guard’s top 
ANDREW SARGIS // PRESIDENT
AT THE HELM
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Continued on page 68
From the first 
committee meetings 
to our final gala, the 
agenda prioritized 
execution, 
regulatory strategy, 
and technological 
integration.

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