The purpose of these regulations is to provide for orderly development, management, protection, safety and efficient use of all harbor spaces and port facilities within the municipal harbor system by commercial vessels, government vessels, pleasure vessels and the boating public. By the mooring of any vessel within the harbor system, the owner, operator, or master of any vessel agrees to follow the rules and requirements of all the provisions within this title.
(S.G.C. 13.02.010; Ord. 14-07 § 4, 2014)
There is created a port and harbors department which will be operated under a harbormaster and staff. The harbormaster will have supervision responsibility and authority to administer all city and borough-owned or operated floats, harbor spaces and port facilities, subject to supervision by the municipal administrator. The harbormaster will have the powers to assign to all vessels, aircraft and other waterborne structures places for docking, berthing, mooring and anchoring within the floats and docks and within all water area in the designated harbor system and to reassign any such stall or space should conditions warrant the same. It is illegal to moor, dock or anchor in any area within harbor jurisdiction unless specifically authorized by the harbormaster. The harbormaster will have the authority to impound or seize any vessel within the system for improper moorage activities or dead storage. Without any obligation or liability on the harbormaster’s part or that of the municipality for his failure to do so, or duty to do so, the harbormaster may replace defective mooring lines, pump boats which are found in a dangerous condition, move any boat found endangering other vessels or raise any sunken vessel. The harbormaster will have the authority to board, inspect for infractions of the law and require compliance prior to the vessel owner continuing the activity that resulted in the infraction. (The responsible boat owner will be billed actual costs associated with any emergency services.)
(S.G.C. 13.02.020; Ord. 14-07 § 4, 2014)
There exists a port and harbors commission consisting of seven members who act as an advisory body to the assembly on matters concerning the harbor system. Their duties will include: working with the harbor-master and administrator planning for new harbors; evaluating needs for harbor services; examining and updating harbor ordinances; review of current harbor operations and annual budgets; recommending priorities, moorage rates and other charges; receiving and evaluating formal and informal advice on harbor operations from citizens and preparing a yearly report to the assembly on the status of the municipal harbor system. The commission will meet nine times per year with additional meetings as needed at the discretion of the chair-person.
(S.G.C. 13.02.030; Ord. 14-07 § 4, 2014)
The geographic boundaries of jurisdiction for the harbormaster will be: that area seaward of the western shore of Baranof Island from the south end of Crescent Harbor to the southern point of the Sitka Airport runway, then continuing north and east along the southerly and easterly shores of Charcoal and Alice Island and continuing northerly and westerly along the easterly shore of Japonski Island to the northwesterly side of the breakwater established in Western Anchorage. Then continuing north and easterly along said breakwater to the westerly shore of Baranof Island, thence continuing southerly and easterly along the shores of Sitka Channel through Crescent Harbor and back to the point of beginning, including Sitka Channel and the Western Anchorage area to the breakwater. Within these geographic confines are contained the municipally owned or operated Crescent Harbor, Sealing Cove Harbor, ANB Harbor, Seaplane Float, Thomsen Harbor, Eliason Harbor, Japonski work float, as well as any and all other public spaces, parking lots, ramps, restrooms, docks or port facilities. (See jurisdiction map, Exhibit A, set out at the end of this title.) The entire area described in this section shall be referred to as the Sitka harbor system in this title. The harbormaster shall have the authority to post such signs as are necessary to facilitate the safe and orderly movement of vessels, vehicles and pedestrians.
(S.G.C. 13.02.040; Ord. 14-07 § 4, 2014)