Alaska's Ocean Ranger program stalled - by whom?

January 28, 2008 12:54 PM - Posted by Myrl Thompson 
Is there more here than meets the eye?

The Cruise Ship Initiative passed back in August 2006 that would allow for "Ocean Rangers" aboard large cruise vessels still has not come to fruition in 2008. Surely, the Dept. of Environmental Conservation is busy working on setting up the program. Suddenly though, there are already cost overruns and seemingly a major part of these are being caused by the cruise ship companies themselves. Room and board charges for the Ocean Rangers are at "company store" prices for the on-board watchdogs. Other unexpected high costs may be pushing the total cost higher than what is needed.

Are there vested interests still working to sabotage the will of Alaska voters? Is there more there than meets the eye from opponents of the Ocean Rangers program?

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