LETTER: More enforcement needed on foreign-flagged boats

Published 7:30 am Sunday, September 13, 2026

The demand for Alaska’s wilderness is increasing, but foreign-flagged boats and un-permitted pirate operators are pushing out local companies. Recently, the Coast Guard stopped a foreign-built charter vessel that was running illegally, competing with local Alaskan companies. The charter was terminated, and the vessel was escorted back to Sitka. This is a good first step, but there are still many more illegally running vessels that are damaging legal U.S. businesses.

I operate out of Juneau, taking guests on eight-day wilderness experiences going to places like Admiralty Island and Glacier Bay. My crew, and I are Americans and my boat is U.S. flagged. I have Forest Service, Park Service and State permits, because that is what it takes to run legally. Over 21 years of operation I have seen illegal and un-permitted operations increase dramatically, with 35% of all such vessels suspected of violating U.S. laws. Most of these boats are foreign flagged and falsely advertised as “bare boat” charters yet run the same tour with the same crew each week (which is illegal). Many violators take paying guests ashore without State & USFS permits. I have heard captains acknowledge that they are going ashore illegally as there is no enforcement.

All of this was probably acceptable in the wild-west days before statehood, but today in 2026, catching one per year isn’t. The Forest Service, Coast Guard, and CBP need to enforce the law.

Jeffrey Smith