[Federal Register: March 21, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 55)]
[Notices]
[Page 15195-15196]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21mr00-118]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7071]
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 GAFIA.
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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 105-383, the Secretary of
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD),
is
[[Page 15196]]
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 April 20, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7071.
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: Michael Hokana, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR 832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-0760.
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 (less 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
commentor'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: GAFIA Owner: Donald A. Depoy.
(2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: Size: 30'8" LOA, beam
9'7" draft 5'0". Capacity and tonnage: measured by title 46 U.S.C. Sub-
part E 69.207-209 Simplified Measurement System: 14.6 tons.
(3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Carry
passenger for hire (6-pack) in the coastal waters of Maine,
specifically the Penobscot and Frenchman Bay Region.''
(4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding.
Date of construction: 1973, place of construction: Nortessund Shipyard,
Orust, Sweden.
(5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:
``This waiver will have little if any impact on the existing passenger
vessel operators in the region. The vessel's port of call, Belfast,
Maine has no passenger vessel operations of any type at the time of
this application. Passengers using the services of this vessel will be
departing from and returning to Belfast, Maine. The vessel will be used
for 3-daily, 3-hour cruises and an occasional overnight passages
beginning and ending in Belfast.''
(6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S.
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``It is inconceivable that there
would be any impact on any U.S. shipyard. The vessel was built in 1973
and had a 1999 purchase cost of less than $25,000. No U.S. ship builder
offers such a vessel at this price.''
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: March 15, 2000.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-6895 Filed 3-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P