b'LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTAT THE HELM Navigating the Waters of Relationships During Ship ConstructionPATRICK MURPHY // PRESIDENTD id you know that the Passenger Vessel Associ- withanypotentialissues.Boththeshipyardandthevesselationhasover30shipyardorrepairfacilitiesas ownermustbewillingtolistenandadapttoeachothersassociate members? Theycomeinall sizesand needsandconstraints.aregeographicallylocatedthroughouttheUnitedStates.IhighlightedsomeofthemduringmyspeechinJanuary PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISIONduringthePVAAnnualConventionatMariTrends2024. Theshipyardtypicallyappointsaprojectmanagertoover-ThismonthsFoghornthemeisshipbuilding.Whetheryou seetheconstructionprocess.Thisindividualisresponsibleare building a new vessel, for coordinating the variousdry-docking or retrofitting activitiesandensuringthattheanexistingone,construction Construction is a complexproject stays on track. Vesselisacomplexandmultifaceted and multifaceted processownersshouldalsodesignateaprocess that requires close projectleader.Thisdualover-collaboration between the that requires closesight helps maintain qualityshipyardandthevesselown- collaboration between thecontrol and ensures that anyer.Thisrelationshipispivotal shipyard and the vesseldeviations from the plan aretothesuccessoftheproject, promptlyaddressed.ensuring that the vessel is owner. This relationship builttotherequiredspecifi- is pivotal to the success ofFLEXIBILITY AND cations,ontime,andwithin PROBLEM-SOLVINGbudget. Here, are some key the project, ensuring thatDespitethebest-laidplans,is-aspects of this relationship the vessel is built to thesuesareboundtoariseduringand how both parties can the construction of a vessel.worktogethereffectively. required specifications, onItcertainlyhappenswhenantime, and within budget.existing vessel is in dry-dockCONTRACTUALor being retrofitted. TheseFOUNDATION issues can range from delaysTherelationshipbetweenashipyardandavesselowner inmaterialdeliverytounexpectedtechnicalchallenges.Abegins with a detailed contract. This contract outlines collaborativeapproachtoproblem-solvingcanhelpkeepthetechnicalspecifications,buildschedule,andpayment theprojectonscheduleandwithinbudget.terms. A well-drafted contract helps prevent misunder-standingsanddisputes,settingthestageforasmoothcon- QUALITY ASSURANCE AND INSPECTIONSstructionprocess. Qualityassuranceisacriticalaspectofshipconstruction.RegularinspectionsareconductedtoensurethatthevesselCOMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION isbeingbuiltorrepairedtothespecifiedstandards.Anyis-Effectivecommunicationisthecornerstoneofasuccessful suesidentifiedduringtheseinspectionsmustbeaddressedshipconstructionproject.Openandtransparentcommu- promptlytoavoidcostlyreworklater.nicationfosterstrustandallowsfortimelyresolutionofproblems.Havingregularmeetingsisanimportantstep FINAL DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCEtomakesurebothpartiesareonthesamepageanddeal Theculminationoftheshipconstructionprocessisthefi-Continued on page 53FOGHORN 4'