Resolution 17-091 Supporting Senate Bill 92 Re: Derelict Vessels

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

City Manager/Port Director

RESOLUTION 17-091

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 92: AN ACT RELATING TO ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS.

                WHEREAS, Hundreds of derelict vessels currently litter Alaska’s coastline and harbors and these numbers will increase every year unless action is taken to address aging fleets and changing commercial fisheries; and

                WHEREAS, In the past two years alone there have been numerous derelict vessel situations that have cost the state, municipalities, and the federal government considerable expense, including two ex-Navy tugs in Adak, abandoned barges in Steamboat Slough near Bethel, and the tug Challenger that sunk off Juneau; and   

                WHEREAS, The Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators recognizes the widespread costs and then environmental and navigational risks for both municipalities and the state associated with derelict vessels; and

                WHEREAS, Neighboring states have dramatically strengthened their derelict vessel prevention laws in the past five years to better prevent, track and manage derelict vessels, including raising fees to support state management of derelict vessels and requiring vessel insurance; and

                WHEREAS, In 1990 the Alaska legislature passed a resolution acknowledging the need to better understand and address the existing and growing problem of derelict vessels around the state; and

                WHEREAS, The State of Alaska has outdated statutes regarding derelict vessels which lack the ability to track vessel owners, agency enforcement authority, statewide coordination of response, funding or vessel insurance requirements; and

                WHEREAS, In 2013 the AAHPA supported the creation of the ad-hoc derelict vessel task force which includes representatives from state and federal agencies as well as the AAHPA, regional tribal representatives, federal and state legislative offices, and private industry; and

                WHEREAS, Over nine full-day meetings, the task force developed thoughtful, robust and meaningful proposed changes that will help all stakeholders around the state, including harbor facilities, better address and prevent derelict vessels; and

                WHEREAS, This will help our members protect harbor infrastructure, keep valuable moorage space in our harbors available, and will prevent unsustainable economic, environmental and navigational hazards; and

                WHEREAS, The proposed changes will improve communication and coordination between Alaska’s harbors and state and federal agencies, directly leading to decreased costs associated with managing derelict vessels.

                NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, fully supports the passage by the state legislature of Senate Bill 92.

                PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of Homer, Alaska, this 30th day of October, 2017.

CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                                _______________________________
                                                                                                                BRYAN ZAK, MAYOR

ATTEST:

______________________________
MELISSA JACOBSEN, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A