Long Beach : Governor Signs Legislation on Ship-Monitoring System
As expected, Gov. Pete Wilson has signed legislation authorizing a vessel tracking service for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, clearing the way for the country’s first major ship-monitoring system in private hands.
The tracking system will be operated by the Marine Exchange, a nonprofit agency controlled by the shipping industry, but will have to be certified by the Coast Guard and a state oil spill prevention administrator.
The Marine Exchange already provides vessel-tracking within a limited area outside the federal breakwater for ships that request the service. But under the legislation signed by Wilson, ships within 20 nautical miles of the Point Fermin light will be required to maintain contact with the exchange and also to finance the service by paying a yet-undetermined port fee.
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