To permit under certain conditions the transportation of passengers between ports in the State of Alaska, or between a port in the State of Alaska and a port in the State of Washington, on vessels not qualified to engage in the coastwise trade that transport more than 1,000 passengers, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · February 1, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The Cruising for Alaska's Workforce Act permits large cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers to operate routes between Alaska ports or between Alaska and Washington ports without meeting the typical requirements to be U.S.-flagged vessels qualified for coastwise trade. This exemption allows foreign-flagged cruise ships to serve these routes, which they currently cannot do under federal maritime law. The exemption will remain in effect until a U.S.-qualified cruise ship becomes available and begins offering comparable passenger service on these routes, at which point operators must stop using the exemption within 270 days of notification. If the U.S.-qualified vessel later becomes unavailable, the exemption would be reinstated. The bill is intended to help support Alaska's cruise industry and workforce by allowing more vessels to operate in the region.
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