HR37

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	37
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

regarding the Passenger ship industry in hawaii.

 

 

WHEREAS Hawaii's passenger cruise industry displays the potential for strong growth amidst continuing uncertainty for our economy generally and the tourism industry specifically;

WHEREAS the Passenger Vessel Services Act, 46 App. U.S.C. 289, enacted by the United States Congress in 1886, prohibits foreign ships from transiting passengers between United States ports;

WHEREAS the bankruptcy of American Classic Voyages and the relocation of its former cruise ships Patriot and Independence has left Hawaii without any U.S. passenger ships equipped for volume operations;

WHEREAS, the Passenger Vessel Services Act denies foreign-flag passenger ships the flexibility to offer the services that U.S. passenger ships have offered in the past to tourists travelling between Hawaii and the mainland or among Hawaii’s ports;

WHEREAS, for example, the Norwegian Star's weeklong Hawaii cruise is actually only four days because it must include a three day trip to Fanning Island, far to our south, not only increasing costs for the ship and the passengers but also skipping Hawaii ports like Hilo; and

WHEREAS, an exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act for ships travelling to or from Hawaii ports would greatly benefit Hawaii’s economy, especially the Neighbor Island economies; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the United States Congress be requested to exempt Hawaii trade from the Passenger Vessel Services Act;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii Passenger Ship Industry