Seward gets port security funding from cruise ship tax

January 1, 1970


The City of Seward received funds from the state's cruise passenger tax to help build a new dock that will help provide greater security and fire protection for cruise visitors.

A project meant to improve security at the Port of Seward will get more than $380,000 in revenue derived from the state's tax on cruise ship passengers.

At its meeting Dec. 2, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved Ordinance 2008-19-33 (substitute) appropriating $383,652.50 to the eastern peninsula city. The money was the borough's 2007 share of the state's Commercial Passenger Vessel excise tax approved by Alaska voters in 2006.

The original ordinances would have given Seward 2008 tax proceeds as well, but Mayor Dave Carey asked the assembly to put off a decision on that pool of money, approximately $304,000, until the administration has had time to research and develop its own plan regarding use of the 2008 CPV funds.

According to Phillip Oates, Seward city manager, the 2007 funds would be used to defray the cost of constructing a security dock and associated upland improvements for use by various law enforcement and port security agencies.

Specifically, Oates said a security dock would be built in the northeast section of the city's Small Boat Harbor next to the cruise ship dock.

"The dock will enable the U.S. Coast Guard, Seward Fire Department, Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Park Service to relocate their response vessels and provide greater security, fire protection and emergency response to cruise ships and their passengers," Oates told the assembly in a memo earlier this year.

The total project is estimated at $6.5 million, Oates noted.

Source: Homer News