(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced that the Alaska Marine Highway System will delay the implementation of the recently released new unaccompanied minor policy. The new policy was to go into effect Nov. 20, 2014.

In reaction to the policy announcement on November 6th, numerous Alaskans contacted the Alaska Department of Transportation expressing their concerns of the difficulties that the policy would create for families that have already scheduled travel, particularly for the Thanksgiving and winter break school holidays.

The current policy will remain in effect and stipulates that in order to travel aboard Alaska Marine Highway vessels, children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a person 19 years of age or older. Children ages 12-15 must be either accompanied by an adult or present written permission for passage signed by their parent or guardian. Children ages 16-17 may travel without restriction.

An authorization form for 12-15 year old unaccompanied travel is available at all Alaska Marine Highway System terminals and at FerryAlaska.com. Although parents may choose this option, AMHS does not recommend it if another alternative is available, as the Alaska Marine Highway System does not provide special supervision of minors traveling unaccompanied.

The primary purpose for the proposed change announced on November 6th, was to protect children traveling on state ferries who, depending on their age, may currently travel unsupervised and in some instances without parental consent.

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will continue to work with Department of Law to review the AMHS policy as it pertains to unaccompanied minors on state ferries. Any future policy change will be announced several weeks prior to implementation.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
www.dot.state.ak.us

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