New Legislation: Alaskan bill to ease wastewater discharge for cruise ships.

Submitted by Winston on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 07:00.

Legislators in Alaska have introduced a bill to ease wastewater discharge for cruise ships. If the bill passes cruise lines would no longer have to travel three miles offshore to discharge wastewater.

The current laws requires testing of wastewater at the point of discharge and could discourage cruise lines from operating in the state. Alaska also has a $50 head tax for cruise passengers.

Royal Caribbean announced recently it was taking one of its ships out of the Alaska market and Cruise West was taking three ships out of the market.