AK HB231

Amends AS 46.03.476 to require large commercial passenger vessels entering Alaska marine waters to have either a USCG-licensed marine engineer or a person with a degree in marine safety and environmental protection from an accredited maritime institution on board as an independent observer.

Removes the requirement that the ocean ranger be hired or retained by the state department, allowing vessel owners/operators to employ qualified personnel directly.

The required observer must monitor, observe, and record data on engineering, sanitation, and health operations including registration, reporting, record-keeping, and discharge functions mandated by state and federal law.

Information gathered by the observer must be promptly conveyed to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Coast Guard in an approved format, with the commissioner authorized to share data with other state and federal agencies.