Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Day Cruise Association News

24 Sep 1999

Federal Hearing on Cruise-to-Nowhere Measure

The House USCG and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 316 (the Cruise-to-Nowhere Act of 1999, which would prohibit gaming in all states that haven't passed a bill specifically allowing it). The subcommittee heard from eight witnesses divided among four panels, with the first two panels consisting of a single witness: Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), chief sponsor of H.R. 316, and Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth, who joined Wolf in support of the bill. Panel three, opponents of the bill, included Allen Walker, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America; C. Dean Hofmeister, chairman/CEO of SeaEscape Cruises; Lester Bullock, president of the Day Cruise Association; and Robert Williams, chairman of the Port of Palm Beach.

21 Mar 2000

Anti-Gaming Decree Ruled Invalid

Administrative Law Judge Linda Rigot issued a summary final order in the case regarding the Day Cruise Association, which challenged Florda Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed rule to prohibit cruise-to-nowhere vessels from operating gaming cruises from state-owned docking facilities after the expiration of their "sovereign submerged land" leases. Rigot's final order stated the proposed rule "is an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority because the Trustees have exceeded their grant of rulemaking authority." The Day Cruise Association is an association of private companies, controlling 17 vessels providing "cruises to nowhere" in Florida.