PVA Testifies at Congressional Hearing

The U. S. House of Representative’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Safety and Transportation held a hearing with U.S. Coast Guard and maritime industry witnesses to discuss the current state of the governmental function of “Protecting Life and Property at Sea.” PVA’s regulatory consultant, Peter Lauridsen, provided testimony on behalf of the association. In his comments, Mr. Lauridsen, a former deputy chief of the Coast Guard’s Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, expressed PVA’s strong concern that changes in the Coast Guard’s mission after September 11, 2001 have severely damaged the service’s ability to work smoothly with the maritime industry, and the passenger vessel association in particular. Mr. Lauridsen noted that vessel operators and their employees depend totally on the Coast Guard for functions critical to their business operations including: performing vessel inspections required by law; issuing legally-mandated mariner licenses; and, approving vessel construction plans. “To perform these functions successfully,” he said, “Coast Guard marine safety professionals must thoroughly know the regulations and be respectful of the mariners themselves, which was the basis of the Coast Guard’s Prevention Through People philosophy.” He suggested the trauma of September 11 and the ensuing emphasis on homeland security seem to have changed the very character of the Coast Guard, leaving the service less able to perform its marine safety mission. “PVA fears the Coast Guard’s marine safety functions will suffer long-lasting and perhaps irreversible degradation,” he said. Citing that only one page out of 54 was devoted to marine safety in the Coast Guard’s recent document titled U.S. Coast Guard’s Strategy for Maritime Safety, Security and Stewardship, Mr. Lauridsen gave additional examples of the agency’s shift away from marine safety in favor of security. “The Coast Guard’s new organizational structure has ‘capped’ the traditional marine safety career specialist at Lieutenant Commander/Commander, causing a ‘brain drain’ as senior officers are drawn from other mission areas. Marine safety should be an identifiable career path within the Coast Guard, with visible marine safety leaders.” He added that the Coast Guard’s change in emphasis has resulted in the passenger vessel industry now seeing a “distinctly military face, as opposed to the seasoned marine safety professional.” In closing, Mr. Lauridsen stressed that the industry is proud of the U. S. Coast Guard’s service. However, he noted that the part of their service dedicated to marine safety was not being consistently fulfilled, and that PVA members were paying the price. “Emphasizing a strong relationship between the Coast Guard and the passenger vessel industry will allow us to be a partner in the watchfulness that complements the Coast Guard’s security responsibility,” he explained, “As well as promotion of marine safety and facilitation of commerce on the water.” About the Passenger Vessel Association The Passenger Vessel Association is the national association representing the interests of owners and operators of dinner cruise vessels, sightseeing and excursion vessels, car and passenger ferries, gaming vessels, private charter boats, whale watching and eco-tour vessels, day-sailers and windjammer sailing vessels, overnight cruise ships and amphibious DUKW. PVA members operate U.S. Coast Guard certificated, Canadian Coast Guard or state inspected vessels. The passenger vessel industry carries more than 200 million passengers each year. Visit PVA on the Internet at: http://www.passengervessel.com