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The Derelict Vessels Act (SB 92) requires vessel owners register their vessels with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A bill (HB 28) passed by the Alaska House this legislative session removes this requirement for commercial fishing vessels registered with the CFEC. However, the 2021 legislative session ended before the Senate took action on the bill. The Department of Public Safety recently announced it will not issue citations to vessel owners not registered with the DMV if the vessel has a current CFEC registration in light of the ongoing efforts to amend the Derelict Vessels Act. Public Safety’s announcement can be found here.

On June 10, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that masks will no longer be required in outdoor areas of conveyances, including commercial fishing vessels. An outdoor area on a vessel is considered permanently open to the weather on at least one side. Masks are still required when entering a vessel and while indoors. More information on this mask requirement update from the U.S Coast Guard can be found here.  

It is recommended vessel owners monitor the CDC website for further updates: https://www.cdc.gov/.