During the late 1970's I was on an assignment that required me to go out on Prince William Sound Pilot boats, climb the 40-ft ladder to the deck of the oil tankers, and ride them into port. Then I would ride back out on another one and return with the pilot. It is a very controlled process with plenty of very professional people involved. When Capt. Hazelwood hit Bly Reef in 1989 he was DRUNK, and his first mate incompetent. It is a marked reef on every chart and this was a huge embarassment for many who are very committed to Alaska's best interests.
What you seem to imply is that the State of Alaska has some kind of obligation to do more than the Federal Government is required to do regarding navigation on national waterways. That is rediculas at its face.
And yes, I have gotten a PFD every single year and I haven't paid state taxes since they were eliminated by the Alaska Legislature soon after the oil started flowing in 1977. I was a newspaper reporter for the Anchorage Daily News during construction of the pipeline and we have done more to accommodate environmentalist obstructionists than they deserve. I'm not running from anything either, sweetheart, but I can spot a misinformed busy body a mile away.
Ridiculous if you want the hand out that is. You sound like the Mayor of NO complaining that Bush did not remind him to use his school buses. The State failed to assure the navigational systems were state of the art. Sure you can blame the Feds, and the drunk, but the point is the State had resources to assure the system was as good as possible, but decided not to be bothered. If it was important to the state they would of made it a priority. Great Lake States set more protections on the lakes than the Feds do, and constantly push for more. Just like Texas some folks can find the school buses.