State’s ‘Ocean Ranger’ program too costly, Fairbanks legislator says

The observers will be on board ensure that cruise ships comply with Alaska environmental laws while operating in state waters.

“I’m still concerned that we’re taking the lowest-tech and highest-cost approach to this,” Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Fairbanks, said during the briefing. “There are hundreds of electronic monitoring devices on the environmental control equipment on these vessels which can be remotely monitored, but we’re still relying on someone walking up and down the boat. This is one of the darndest things I’ve seen since I’ve been down here.”

The state will spend $4 million on the observers next year, with the money coming from part of the $50 per passenger head tax the state imposes on cruise ship tourists. The observer program was mandated by the same citizen initiative that enacted the cruise passenger tax. The observers must be trained marine engineers or technicians. The state has contracted with Crowley Maritime to operate the observer program.

The House Finance Committee was considering a $2.8 billion supplemental appropriation to a $1.2 million authorized for the program by legislators last May in the current state budget. The supplemental appropriation will bring funding up to the $4 million needed for full implementation of the observer program.