Bill regulating commercial use of lagoon faces strong opposition

Boat owners and tour operators came in full force to a public hearing held yesterday by the House transportation committee to oppose legislation that will regulate sea vessels’ traffic within Saipan’s western lagoon.

They pleaded anew their case against the management of the Outer Cove Marina over safety and fees, turning the hearing into an extension of last week’s Senate oversight into the controversy.

But Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho, chair of the Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications, told reporters after the hearing the panel would press passage of the proposal once it has been fine-tuned.

The gathering heard views from government agencies and the community on HB 12-250 seeking to regulate operations of tour boats and commercial passenger ships within the lagoon.

Sponsored by Rep. Bobby T. Guerrero, the measure is also aimed to enhance implementation of the Managaha Marine Conservation that the governor recently approved.

At present, vessels are allowed to take on paying passengers at various points of embarkation, such as at the Echo Dock, the Sea Plane Ramps at Lower Base and Outer Cove.

Lagoon traffic and safety would be boosted designating exclusive points of embarkation from which such vessels would be allowed to moor and take on passengers, according to the bill.

If it becomes law, it will restrict point of embarkation at Smiling Cove and Outer Cove for all vessels, including jetskis and banana boats. Any violation of this restriction will be an act of misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 and/or 30-day jail sentence.

But boat owners and tour operators condemned the move as it would mean forcing them to moor and dock at the Outer Cove which they claimed is not safe for their vessels.

They also told lawmakers the disputes they have with the Marine Revitalization Corp., which operates the marina, should be resolved first before such legislation can be enacted.

The Senate Committee on Resources, Economic, Development and Programs chaired by Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, is scheduled to resume tomorrow its oversight hearing in an effort to seek solution to the three-year-old controversy.

Enough

To show his opposition, Cookie Alvarez, a boat captain working for the TaoTao Marine, flashed a banner with the words “Captain’s decision is final!”

“Majority rules. Enough of the bill,” he told the House hearing.

Another boat captain, Patrick from PDI, warned of “major chaos” as he urged the lawmakers to be wise in reviewing the measure.

“[The crowd here] is not even half of the people who oppose this bill,” he said. “Voters put you here to make wise decisions. This is a bad decision.”

MRC president Anthony Pellegrino was the lone voice to back the proposal during the full-packed hearing, noting a change on current practice where boats are virtually unregulated must begin now.

Although they saw it as a means to promote safety of the passengers, several government agencies, such as MVA, CPA and DLNR, expressed objection to the present language of the bill because of their impact on the tourism industry as well as on their financial shape.
Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas disclosed that if it is signed into law, the agency would lose revenues as the ferries plying Saipan-Tinian would no longer be allowed to take passengers at the seaport in Lower Base.

CPA would not also be the proper agency to implement the proposed regulations since it does not have jurisdiction over Smiling Cove and Outer Cove, he said in his testimony.

Mr. Camacho said the committee will incorporate recommendations from agencies and the business sector to come up with legislation favorable to all parties.

“This is a first step toward improving the critical situation,” he said.