Boat owners: no to compromise

Boat owners and tour operators are not likely to accept a compromise on HB 12-250 restricting them in either Outer Cove Marina or the Smiling Cove despite efforts by lawmakers to find a middle ground.

Rexford Kosack, lawyer for three tour operators and a boat owner himself, told the House transportation committee that they don’t see the need anymore to improve the bill to satisfy everyone’s concerns.

He urged lawmakers to address the real issues, particularly on the boat owners and tour operators’ appeal to resolve the disputes over safety and rates at the Outer Cove, instead of enacting such legislation.

“A compromise [on the bill] isn’t going to work. Putting the boats in one place is not a good idea. Putting them in the Outer Cove is a very dangerous idea,” he said yesterday during the hearing on HB 12-250.

Committee chair Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho said the other day the House would press passage of the measure after incorporating concerns and recommendations made by several government agencies and business leaders.

Several boat owners and tour operators, including beach concessionaires who rent jetskis and banana boats to tourists, strongly opposed the proposal, citing impact on the tourism industry as well as potential traffic congestion both in land and in the lagoon and safety of Outer Cove.

Sponsored by Rep. Bobby T. Guerrero, the legislation seeks to regulate sea vessels’ traffic within Saipan’s western lagoon in an effort to enhance conservation measures in the protected area around Managaha island.

It will designate embarkation, mooring and docking for boats and commercial passengers ships only at Outer Cove and Smiling Cove, leaving other facilities such as Echo Dock and Sea Plane Ramp restricted.

While House members maintained the bill does not include jet skis and small rental boats, Mr. Kosack believed there is no need to regulate boat traffic in the lagoon as there has not been any hazard or accident in their operations.

Putting all boats together in one small area does not enhance, but rather jeopardizes safety, he said, noting the flaws in designating Outer Cove as a point of embarkation.

It’s only the Smiling Cove, a natural harbor, that can be a safe refuge for boats even during strong typhoons, Mr. Kosack said

“We will be taking one step forward and three steps back [with this bill],” he told reporters in an interview after the two-hour hearing.

Since the town meeting has been tied with the controversy surrounding the Outer Cove and the Marine Revitalization Corp., lawmakers took the opportunity to ask the boat owners and tour operators on the issue.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, however, lamented the absence of public officials, particularly from DLNR, CPA and CRM, during yesterday’s hearing as he noted that the root cause of the problem is the failure by the government to immediately resolve the disputes.

“The Legislature is committed to resolving this issue,” he told boat owners and tour operators.

The Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development and Programs is set to resume this morning its oversight into the operations of marina, while the House hearing on HB 12-250 is expected to call on government representatives next week.