CAMANCHE — Free cruises on the Blue Heron pontoon boat at Rock Creek Park will continue, the Clinton County Conservation Board has decided, while efforts are made to resolve an issue with the Coast Guard about the former $5 per person fee, which had been in place since 2002.

The former $5 fee was designed to recoup the cost of fuel and the time of the naturalist who operated the boat and pointed  out native birds and fish, history of the river, habitats, water quality and commercial and recreational  uses of the river.

The conservation board estimated it cost about $140 to run the boat for a 90-minute cruise.

  But two years ago the Coast Guard determined the program was a “Passenger for hire” operation and needed to meet stringent regulations.

While trying to find out how to meet those regulations, the conservation board decided to just pass the hat after a cruise for free-will donations. But the Coast Guard said they couldn’t do that.

 This year the board met with two representative of the Coast Guard  and proposed accepting donations for the agency’s busy environmental education program.

According to Walt Wickham, executive director of the conservation board, “They told us we could do that as long as the money did not go to the boat.”

But on May 10, Wickham, two board members and Mark Roberts, coordinator of environmental education for the agency, met with the same two Coast Guard representatives and one additional individual.

Wickham later told the Herald, “They told us we cannot accept any donations or any payment of any kind for a cruise. We asked about the procedure for getting our boat and staff licensed, but they could not  give us any specifics. They said they were not experts in that area. Instead they directed us to their St. Louis office.”

Meanwhile, “The conservation board has made it clear to me,” Wickham said, “that they do not want to shut down the cruises. So while we look further into our options, we are operating on a strictly free basis. Private group cruises which have  already been booked will still take place, without a charge. But no new groups will be booked until we straighten out this mess.”

The Herald asked Lt. JG Colin M. Fogarty, public information officer for the Coast Guard’s Upper Mississippi River Sector, for clarification of the problem. Here is what he had to say:

“The Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River in St. Louis applauds the Clinton Conservation Board’s efforts to educate the public regarding the history of the Mississippi River and the life it supports through the EcoTourism Center and the M/V Blue Heron.

“Our goal with regards to the Blue Heron is to assist and ensure the Conservation Board provides a safe and secure operation in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

“To that end, Coast Guard members from the Marine Safety Detachment Quad Cities, a sub unit of SUMR, have recently engaged in  ongoing conversations with the Clinton County Conservation Board members and staff.

“The purpose of these conversations is to help the Coast Guard gain a better understanding of their operations as well as to inform and assist the Board members regarding the laws and regulations that may pertain to the operation of the Blue Heron.

“During these ongoing meetings, we learned that the County Conservation Board was operating  the vessel in good faith and an effort to go above and beyond the basic and necessary required safety measures, but was, unfortunately, in violation of  some laws and regulations pertaining to small passenger vessel operations.

“In this case, M/V Blue Heron is considered a Small Passenger Vessel, as defined by Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2.10-25.

“As a   Small Passenger Vessel for Hire, the M/V Blue Heron must meet two main requirements. It must have a valid Coast Guard issued Certificate of Inspection and must be operated by a Licensed/credentialed mariner.”

The Herald asked what was involved in meeting those requirements.

A 50-ton Masters License will be required for M/V Blue Heron.

This will require each applicant to have 360 days of experience, a physical, a drug screening, first-aid and CPR training and a Transportation Worker Identification Credential Card.

“Applicants will be able to use their experience aboard M/V Blue Heron as well as other vessels to count toward the required time.

The cost and time required are on a case-by-case basis. There is a fee associated with the TWIC card, as well as smaller fees related to the application.

“The Captain and pilots may already have the required time or they may need to spend more time ‘gaining experience’ to get their license.

“Despite the fact the M/V Blue Heron is a relatively new vessel, there may be required changes to be made to qualify for a Certificate of Inspection.

“Until M/V Blue Heron receives a full inspection  (electrical, engineering, structural, stability, etc.) we cannot be sure what, if anything, will need to be changed.

“This inspection will not involve pulling the vessel apart.”