Assembly raises rates for lightering cruise passengers to shore

Cruise ship operators that lighter their passengers to shore will pay higher port fees starting this summer in Wrangell.

The borough assembly unanimously approved the new rate structure Jan. 9, following a port commission recommendation.

The rates had been set at 40% of the cost of tying up to the dock, with the new fee structure raising that to 60%. The increase in lightering fees is intended to encourage more ships to tie up at the dock rather than anchor offshore, Interim Borough Manager Mason Villarma told the assembly.

Wrangell should be competitive in its rates but not too low, said Assembly Member Bob Dalrymple. “I always want us to be a bargain” to help attract ships and their passengers to town.

About 20 of the almost 50 stops by cruise ships with 200 berths or more in Wrangell last summer lightered their passengers to shore.

“Regionally, we’re low compared to most of them,” Harbormaster Steve Miller told the assembly of how Wrangell’s fees compare to other Southeast communities.

“In the past, Wrangell has adopted a strategy of keeping port rates low in order to attract businesses and stimulate economic growth,” Miller said in a written report to the assembly.

“This approach has successfully brought in a significant amount of business to the ports and harbor area, contributing to the overall development of Wrangell,” he said.

“As the years have passed, the maintenance costs associated with maintaining and upgrading the ports and harbor infrastructure have skyrocketed. The low port rates, while beneficial in attracting businesses, have not generated enough revenue to cover these rising costs,” Miller said in his report.

Lightering rates as based on the size of the vessel. For a 964-foot-long cruise ship, the new rate will be $14,364.

The assembly action also changed the borough’s fee for security personnel on the dock from $30 an hour to $600 for each cruise ship stop.

“Moving the security fee to a flat rate will help streamline the billing process and help cover costs associated with utilizing harbor personnel to cover this position when we have no security personnel available,” the harbormaster said in his report.