Alaska Delegation Targets Cruise Ship Protectionism

Colin GrabowAfter decades of maritime protectionism diverting Alaska ‐​bound cruise ships (and tourist dollars) to Canadian ports, some measure of common sense may finally prevail. Earlier this week Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)announced her forthcoming introduction of legislation to ease the burden of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) on Alaska. In so doing, Murkowski will become the second member of Alaska ’s congressional delegation to target the PVSA in recent months, with Rep. Don Youngputting forth a separate bill in July to loosen the law ’s shackles.It ’s welcome news. Legislation to pare back the PVSA is long overdue, particularly for Alaska.Passed in 1886, the PVSA restricts domestic waterborne passenger transport to vessels that are U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, and mostly U.S. crewed and owned (essentially theJones Act but for cruise vessels and ferries). But none of the large cruise ships that transport passengers to Alaska from the Lower 48 meet those conditions and must stop in a Canadian port —making the trip international rather than purely domestic—to avoid running afoul of the PVSA.Whilea boon to Canada ’s tourism industry, the PVSA comes at the expense of passengers who would rather spend their Alaska cruise actually visiting Alaska. The forced stops are also a missed opportunity for Alaska ’s tourism sector as well as cruise ship operators who bear the expense of an otherwise unneeded port call. But earlier ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs