Features Columns 8 As Time and Tides Go By: Celebrating 100 Years of Ferrying Guests to a Very Special Island Ship Island Excursions reaches a milestone and looks back at how the operation and the region they serve has transformed in the last century. 16 A Whale of a Problem: Protecting Marine Life and Maritime Operations in the San Francisco Bay As the number of whales increases to unprecedented numbers, Tony Heeter of Blue & Gold Fleet helps lead efforts to protect both the creatures and maritime operators. 22 The Changing Economics of Passenger Ferries: How Technology is Reshaping Maritime Transport Take a deep dive into electrification, how it can scale, and where it can deliver the greatest impact for passenger vessels. 30 When Every Second Counts: A Crew’s Swift Actions Save a Life Frequent training and drills made it “second nature” for a team to act calmly and quickly when facing a crisis. Foghorn is published monthly, except combined January/February, by the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), 103 Oronoco Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Va., 22314 Send address changes to Foghorn at pvainfo@passengervessel.com. Copyright 2026 by the Passenger Vessel Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the Passenger Vessel Association. PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATION PVAINFO@PASSENGERVESSEL.COM • PHONE: 703-518-5005 4 Letter From the President 7 Letter From the Executive Director 36 Legislative Report 38 Safety Matters 41 Legal Matters 42 Newswire 43 U.S. Coast Guard 44 Member News 52 Advertisers’ Index OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATION VOL. 25, NO. 3 APRIL 2026 PRESIDENT Andrew Sargis, Wendella Sightseeing Boats, Chicago, Ill. VICE PRESIDENT John Lake, Hornblower, Alexandria, Va. SECRETARY/TREASURER Ben Bernstein, BB Riverboats, Newport, Ky. BOARD MEMBERS Chris Anglin, Cross Sound Ferry, New London, Conn. Erik Bombard, Catalina Express, San Pedro, Calif. Jenna Deegan-Brown, Grand Lady Cruises, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. Jenny Gezella, Naples Princess, Naples, Fla. Carol Hill, Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry, Key West, Fla. Christian Myers, Interstate Navigation Company, Wakefield, R.I. Sarah Pennington, Classic Harbor Line, New York, N.Y. Tim Ratcliffe, Argosy Cruises, Seattle, Wash. Hannah Wirginis Roth, Gateway Clipper Fleet Pittsburgh, Pa. ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Somerset, Mass. Tosca Pinder, USI Insurance Services, Seattle, Wash. PVA PAST PRESIDENTS Jim Swindler, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, San Francisco, Calif. Patrick Murphy, Blue and Gold Fleet, San Francisco, Calif. Steve Jones, Gateway Clipper Fleet, Pittsburgh, Pa. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John R. Groundwater SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ADVISOR Edmund Welch LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR Richard Patch REGULATORY AFFAIRS CONSULTANT Peter Lauridsen DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Leslie Kagarise DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND RISK MANAGEMENT Eric Christensen GENERAL COUNSEL Steven Bers, Whiteford, Taylor and Preston EDITORIAL OFFICES Managing Editor: Sarah Ferretti sarah@passengervessel.com 571-388-7752 About the Cover Ship Island has been an integral part of the Skrmetta family for multiple generations. Now, they’re doing all they can to protect the fragile barrier island for the generations yet to come. Story on page 8. / Photo: Adobe Stock Environmental Issues
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