HB 164: "An Act relating to reporting of vessel location by certain commercial passenger vessels operating in the marine waters of the state, to access to vessels by licensed marine engineers for purposes of monitoring compliance with state and federal requirements, and to the obligations of those engineers while aboard the vessels; and providing for an effective date."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 164 01 "An Act relating to reporting of vessel location by certain commercial passenger vessels 02 operating in the marine waters of the state, to access to vessels by licensed marine 03 engineers for purposes of monitoring compliance with state and federal requirements, 04 and to the obligations of those engineers while aboard the vessels; and providing for an 05 effective date." 06 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 07 * Section 1. AS 46.03.465(b) is amended to read: 08 (b) While a commercial passenger vessel is present in the marine waters of the 09 state, the owner or operator of the vessel shall provide to the United States Coast 10 Guard an hourly report of the vessel's location based on Global Positioning System 11 technology and collect routine samples of the vessel's treated sewage, graywater, and 12 other wastewaters being discharged into marine waters of the state with a sampling 13 technique approved by the department.
01 * Sec. 2. AS 46.03.476(a) is amended to read: 02 (a) An owner or operator of a large commercial passenger vessel operating in 03 [ENTERING] the marine waters of the state is required to allow [HAVE] a marine 04 engineer licensed by the United States Coast Guard hired or retained by the 05 department on board the vessel. The owner or operator shall allow the licensed 06 marine engineer to board the vessel at times designated by the commissioner 07 while the vessel is in an Alaska port. While aboard the vessel, the marine 08 engineer shall 09 (1) [TO] act as an independent observer for the purpose of monitoring 10 state and federal requirements pertaining to marine discharge and pollution 11 requirements; 12 (2) comply with the vessel's approved United States Coast Guard 13 security plan [AND TO INSURE THAT PASSENGERS, CREW, AND 14 RESIDENTS AT PORTS ARE PROTECTED FROM IMPROPER SANITATION, 15 HEALTH, AND SAFETY PRACTICES]. 16 * Sec. 3. AS 46.03.476(b) is amended to read: 17 (b) The licensed marine engineer shall monitor, observe, and record data and 18 information related to the [ENGINEERING, SANITATION, AND HEALTH 19 RELATED OPERATIONS OF THE VESSEL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED 20 TO] registration, reporting, record-keeping, and discharge functions required by state 21 and federal law. 22 * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 23 read: 24 RETROACTIVITY. Sections 1 - 3 of this Act are retroactive to December 17, 2006. 25 * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).