House to amend bill regulating boat traffic

The House transportation committee will press passage of the controversial bill seeking to regulate sea vessels’ traffic within Saipan’s western lagoon in a bid to enhance safety of the area for tourists and passengers.

Committee chair Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho said it would be amended to deal with concerns raised during public hearings conducted for the past few weeks.

Among the changes under consideration include requiring installation of a ramp for jetskis instead of using beach areas as well as restricting use of third-class docking facilities.

“We will definitely go ahead with the bill,” Mr. Camacho told in an interview. “We need these safety measures and regulations to correct past errors.”

He described as errors such government actions as permitting the tourists to board boats in unsafe or third-class docks and allowing jetskis to use as launching ramp the beach areas.

There is no timeframe as to when the amendments to HB 12-250 will be incorporated as the committee is expected to meet with government agencies such as the Department of Public Safety and the Commonwealth Ports Authority to iron out provisions, according to the chair.

“The bottom-line is we have to ensure safety of the tourists and residents,” he explained. “We are not after fees being imposed right now. We are more inclined to address safety issues.”

Boat owners and tour operators have strongly opposed the proposal, claiming it would limit areas where they can moor, dock and pick up passengers. The initial draft has designated Smiling Cove and Outer Cove Marina as points for these activities.

The Outer Cove is under fire for alleged safety breaches and high rates being imposed by Marine Revitalization Corp. which operates the controversial marina.

“We are not going to force boat owners and tour operators to stay in one place. We are very open to other areas. If it’s safe to dock in another marina, we will not prohibit them from doing so,” said Mr. Camacho.

At present, docking facilities at Echo Dock and the Seaplane Ramp within the Saipan seaport compound are being used by some tour boats after they left Outer Cove due to the disputes with MRC.

But the Saipan representative urged CPA to work with the committee in trying to resolve the issues surrounding operations of Outer Cove.

He said if the ports authority is permitting boat owners and tour operators to use their facilities, “there is very little we can do to resolve them.”

CPA will be designated as the agency to implement the proposed regulations based on the original draft of the bill — a move that its officials maintained is highly objectionable since the ports authority has no jurisdiction at all over Smiling Cove or Outer Cove which are federal properties.

“If we all cooperate, it will be much easier,” added the lawmaker.

Aside from the House legislation designed to deal with the marina controversy, the Senate Resources, Economic Development and Program is expected to issue results of its own oversight on the Outer Cove.

Mr. Camacho said his committee will try to reconcile its findings with the results of the Senate’s investigation.