[Federal Register: July 13, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 135)]
[Notices]
[Page 36830-36831]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jy01-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-10095]
Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative
waiver of the coastwise trade laws for the vessel ADVENTURE CAT.
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SUMMARY: As authorized by Pub. L. 105-383, the Secretary of
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD),
is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the
coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver
has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a description of the
proposed service, is listed below. Interested parties may comment on
the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses
in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines that in
accordance with Pub. L. 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part
388 (65 FR 6905; February 11, 2000) that the issuance of the waiver
will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a
business that uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will not be granted.
DATES: Submit comments on or before August 13, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2001-10095.
Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket
Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400
7th St., SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You may also send comments
electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All
comments will become part of this docket and will be available for
inspection and copying at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
e.t., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An electronic
version of this document and all documents entered into this docket is
available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Dunn, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
[[Page 36831]]
Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-2307.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of Pub. L. 105-383 provides
authority to the Secretary of Transportation to administratively waive
the U.S.-build requirements of the Jones Act, and other statutes, for
small commercial passenger vessels (no more than 12 passengers). This
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR
1.66, Delegations to the Maritime Administrator, as amended. By this
notice, MARAD is publishing information on a vessel for which a request
for a U.S.-build waiver has been received, and for which MARAD requests
comments from interested parties. Comments should refer to the docket
number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to
properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the
commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR part 388.
Vessel Proposed for Waiver of the U.S.-build Requirement
(1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested. Name of
vessel: Adventure Cat. Owner: J.B. Ewing Enterprises, Inc.
(2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the
applicant:
``* * * 9.7 tons. It is a 47 feet catamaran with a 23-foot beam and has
4 staterooms.''
(3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``This is a
charter vessel with a captain and crew and no more than 12 guests for
sailing in the Gulf of Mexico from the Sanibel Island area.''
(4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding.
Date of construction: 1998. Place of construction: Bordeaux, France.
(5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:
``Currently there is no other vessel of this class, size and capacity
offing sailing services in the Southwest Florida or the Gulf waters. We
do have within 100 miles, larger vessels who market themselves as 50 or
more guests for fishing, sightseeing and gambling.''
(6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S.
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``The U.S. boat manufacturers
passed on the construction of large sailing catamaran, as it was not
view as a profitable market. I also learn from U.S. salesmen for
Beneteau Group (who own Lagoon) that the France government had made
available tax relief for this vessel type and class allowing it to be
made in France. If I were a U.S. boat builder back then, looking at
this market size, I too would let someone else build the vessel and
focus all my resources to a more production volume vessel for the U.S.
market.''
Dated: July 10, 2001.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-17581 Filed 7-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P