:: State Chamber backs change to wastewater discharge standards
The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce has adopted five priorities for the 2009 legislative session, including one that supports modifying wastewater discharge standards for cruise ships.
"The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce urges the Governor and the Alaska State Legislature to delete the 'point of discharge' standard governing the cruise ship wastewater permits. The State Chamber Commerce asks the 2009 legislature to apply the best available data and technology when setting standards for cruise ship wastewater discharge permits," the chamber stated.
The chamber also adopted the following...
The Alaska State Chamber has joined several municipal governments in urging the legislature to "apply the best available data and technology" when setting wastewater discharge standards for cruise ships like the Diamond Princess, shown here in Tracy Arm.
:: Coast Guard commends ACA Ships for safe 2008 season
The commander of the U.S. Coast Guard?s 17th District has commended the nine member lines of the Alaska Cruise Association (ACA) and North West CruiseShip Association (NWCA) for reaching its annual goal "of preventing accidents that may result in injuries to personnel and damage to the environment and property."
In a letter, Rear Admiral A.E. Brooks reported that there were no personnel injuries, no significant marine causalities and only a few minor oil spills during the 2008 season.
"This is an especially noteworthy accomplishment when you consider that cruise ships plying Alaskan waters conducted over 2,300 port calls and transported approximately one million passengers," the admiral wrote. "The success of this season is directly...
Gage Sholl, a staff member at Threshold Services in Kodiak, processes spent fluorescent bulbs through the Bulb Eater® the Alaska Cruise Association donated to the community. Threshold operates a community recycling facility that accepts various recyclables and provides a hands-on work place for individuals living with disabilities to learn basic vocational skills.
:: Hoonah stands as proof villages can find prosperity
By Charles L. Westmoreland
Huna Totem Corporation opened Icy Strait Point to cruise ships in 2004 with some apprehension. At the time Hoonah's reputation was that of a quiet, pristine fishing and logging community; untouched by the flamboyant commercialism of other Southeast Alaska ports.
Like many remote Alaska villages, with local jobs dwindling away a new viable source of income was needed. But marketing Hoonah as a tourism hotspot without turning it into a tourism trap was a challenge.
Tourists who disembark at Icy Strait Point, an early 20th century cannery located a few miles outside Hoonah, at first were kept away from the heart of the town so as to not disturb...
Hoonah now hosts up to 2,500 cruise visitors a day, providing much needed economic stimulation for this village of 850.
Firefighters check out security arrangements during a firefighting drill aboard the Celebrity Millennium while it was docked in Juneau.
Photo courtesy of Gayland Bravik.
:: Millenium stars firefighters' learning exercise
A late season firefighting drill aboard the Celebrity Millennium met all its objectives and was judged "very helpful," according to a consultant who coordinated the learning...
:: Southeast Alaska mass rescue exercise 2009 planning under way
The City of Ketchikan, Holland America Line, Customs and Border Protection and Coast Guard Sector Juneau have initiated planning efforts to jointly sponsor a mass rescue exercise simulating the joint response to the evacuation of a cruise ship in Southeast...
Seattle expects 2009 will bring another record year with 208 vessel visits and more than 800,000 passengers
:: Seattle tops for cruise passengers in 2008
The Port of Seattle ended 2008 as the leader on the Alaska cruise run, posting its best year and narrowly topping Vancouver for the number of passengers...
:: Cruise critic honors ACA lines
Eight of the nine ACA cruise lines that visit Alaska each season received the supreme nod in Best in Class categories selected by the Cruise Critic's...