Coast Guard terminates voyage of passenger vessel operating in Whittier, Alaska

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 428-4140 After Hours: (907) 227-9248 17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard terminates voyage of passenger vessel operating in Whittier, Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a vessel illegally carrying passengers for hire operating out of Whittier Friday.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port Valdez ordered the Pacific Provider to return to its port of origin in Whittier. Two passengers provided statements to a Coast Guard Station Valdez boarding team that they paid for a trip on the Pacific Provider. The boarding team found the vessel to be in violation of the Vessel Passenger Service Act.

“When people pay to be a passenger on a vessel in Alaska, part of their assumption is that the vessel’s operator is fully compliant with all safety regulations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mason Wilcox, chief of inspections for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. “This vessel was not authorized to take passengers for hire and was avoiding Coast Guard oversight even after they were notified by several Coast Guard offices. Operating outside the confines of the regulations will not be tolerated."

The Pacific Provider received a letter from the Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Center prohibiting it from operating in Coastwise Trade because the vessel had been previously registered in a foreign country.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage personnel and agents with the Coast Guard Investigative Service are conducting an investigation into the vessel’s operation.

 

-USCG-