Due out of dry dock here in San Francisco on June 7th is an American passenger ship, the Pride of Aloha. Formerly the Norwegian Sky, she becomes nationalized at a quiet ceremony on the 7th, after which she is scheduled to Pier 35 the same day to take on her first passengers.
By Guy Span
Published: June, 2004
Due out of dry dock here in San Francisco on June 7th is an American passenger ship, the Pride of Aloha. Formerly the Norwegian Sky, she becomes nationalized at a quiet ceremony on the 7th, after which she is scheduled to Pier 35 the same day to take on her first passengers. Her crew and service personnel are all Americans, as well. And since this is now an American ship with an American crew, she can make the voyage to any consecutive American ports.
Cabotage laws restrict foreign vessels from docking at two or more US ports. Many countries have similar laws in an attempt to boost local shipping, but in the case of liners, the law has merely served to force Americans to take a voyage to a foreign port before returning home. This is why foreign flagged ships offer so much service to Alaska, with a convenient stop in Canada to make it legal.
The Pride of Aloha can offer a much rarer cruise and is doing so, with an inexpensive four day jaunt down to LA (with a few stops along the way) departing June 7. The return takes five days and departs on the 13th, with every port of call being in the US. June 20 sees the 12 day departure to Hawaii in the Matson tradition. And Hawaii will be her base for the foreseeable future.
Under the same cabotage laws, a company can nationalize a foreign built ship if it has an American ship under construction. Norwegian Cruise Lines has its brand new American-built Pride of America being refitted at a German shipyard, where an accidental sinking delayed her completion. So for a few heady days, an American ship will ply the coast and make multiple stops in the US.
You can contact Guy Span at info@baycrossings.com
