SB 33-NAME STATE FERRIES: M/V TAZLINA & HUBBARD                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:31:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be SB 33.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:31:58 PM                                                                                                                    
CAPTAIN   MIKE  NEUSSL,   Deputy   Commissioner,  Department   of                                                               
Transportation and Public Facilities  (DOTPF), presented SB 33 on                                                               
behalf of the  Governor and Commissioner Luiken.  He related that                                                               
the  bill names  the  two Alaska-class  ferries, currently  under                                                               
construction  in  Ketchikan, the  Motor  Vessel  Tazlina and  the                                                               
Motor Vessel Hubbard. Governor Walker,  Lt. Governor Mallott, and                                                               
DOT  Commissioner  Luiken sponsored  a  contest  for children  in                                                               
grades 6 - 12  to come up with names for the  two new vessels. By                                                               
statute, Alaska ferries  must be named after  glaciers in Alaska.                                                               
There were  about 450  essays submitted  from which  the Governor                                                               
selected two names.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:33:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR EGAN said he has  been receiving emails from constituents                                                               
suggesting the words "Motor Vessel"  not be included in the names                                                               
of the vessels.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:34:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CAPTAIN NEUSSEL responded  that he saw that also. He  noted it is                                                               
a  technicality  and  the  language   conforms  to  the  existing                                                               
statute. "Motor  Vessel" is a  description of the vessel  and the                                                               
names are Tazlina and Hubbard.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:34:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR EGAN  noted that none  of the current ferries  say "Motor                                                               
Vessel."                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CAPTAIN NEUSSEL  assured that "Motor  Vessel" is not  welded with                                                               
the name onto the ship's side.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR EGAN  asked if it  would say  "Motor Vessel" if  the bill                                                               
passes.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CAPTAIN NEUSSEL  said it would not;  it would be the  same as the                                                               
names of rest of the vessels.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:35:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  STEDMAN provided  an example  of how  "Fishing Vessel"  is                                                               
treated.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:36:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN opened and then closed public testimony.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:36:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  STEDMAN requested  to  know  where the  ships  are in  the                                                               
construction process.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:36:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CAPTAIN NEUSSEL said  that the Tazlina and the  Hubbard are under                                                               
construction at the  Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan.  The Tazlina is                                                               
half complete. Several  modules to be used on the  Hubbard are on                                                               
site and ready  to install. The first vessel  should be delivered                                                               
right around the  beginning of 2018. The second  vessel should be                                                               
done a few months later.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:38:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN held SB 33 in committee.