[Federal Register: September 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 183)]
[Notices]
[Page 54101-54102]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se07-163]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)/Joint Planning
Advisory Group (JPAG)
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Synopsis of August 21-24, 2007 Meeting with VISA Participants
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The VISA program requires that a notice of the time, place, and
nature of each JPAG meeting be published in the Federal Register. The
full text of the VISA program, including these requirements, is
published in 70 FR 55947-55955, dated September 23, 2005.
On August 21-24, 2007, the Maritime Administration and the U.S.
Transportation Command co-hosted a JPAG meeting at the U.S.
Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Meeting
attendance was by invitation only, due to the nature of the information
discussed and the need for a government-issued security clearance. Of
the 52 U.S.-flag carrier corporate participants enrolled in the VISA
program, 18 companies and one representative from maritime labor
participated in the JPAG meeting. In addition, representatives from the
Maritime Administration and the Department of Defense (DOD) attended
the meeting.
Margaret Leclaire, Deputy Director Strategy, Plans, Policy &
Programs, U.S. Transportation Command, and James
[[Page 54102]]
Caponiti, Associate Administrator for National Security, Maritime
Administration, welcomed the participants. Ms. Leclaire thanked the
industry participants for their continued support. She remarked that
she was pleased with the large number of attendees at the JPAG meeting.
Ms Leclaire noted that this JPAG was a follow-up to previous JPAG
exercises including a table-top exercise conducted in July 2006. This
exercise, she noted, was designed to go beyond the table-top exercise
and test the industry's ability to respond to what might occur during a
VISA activation. The results of the JPAG would be used to validate the
VISA activation battlebook.
Mr. Caponiti remarked that the numerous assumptions in previous
JPAG exercises did not always take into account events that could
disrupt the industry's ability to meet DOD requirements. Assumptions in
previous exercises were made to minimize disruption of commercial and
military activities, which may not be the case in an actual VISA
activation. He expressed a hope that this JPAG exercise would add
realism to what actually could occur during VISA activation. Further,
both Mr. Caponiti and Ms. Leclaire requested that participants document
concerns and issues that would be required to improve the VISA
activation process.
The purpose of the JPAG exercise was to review the processes of
VISA activation using strategic sealift requirements to support two
military contingencies simultaneously. The exercise also focused on the
contractual processes required for VISA activation as well as the
subsequent communications flow required to support the activation. The
JPAG exercise was considered a success as industry participants were
able to provide necessary capacity and resources to meet DOD
requirements. However, the participants identified areas that needed
clarity and further development to improve the VISA activation process.
The Maritime Administration, U.S. Transportation Command and industry
participants agreed to work on the issues identified in the JPAG
exercise to assure that they are adequately addressed for the efficient
coordination of VISA activation procedures and contractual processes.
The following VISA companies participated in the August 21-24, 2007
JPAG meeting: American President Lines, Ltd.; American Roll-On Roll-Off
Carrier, LLC; American Shipping Group; APL Marine Services, Ltd.; APL
Maritime Ltd; Central Gulf Lines, Inc.; Farrell Lines Incorporated;
Fidelio Limited Partnership; Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC; Horizon Lines, LLC;
Liberty Global Logistics, LLC; Liberty Shipping Group Limited
Partnership; Maersk Line, Limited; Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines LLC;
Patriot Shipping, LLC; Patriot Titan, LLC; Sealift Inc. and Waterman
Steamship Corporation.
Contact Person for Additional Information: Mr. Taylor E. Jones II,
Director, Office of Sealift Support, (202) 366-2323.
Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: September 13, 2007.
Daron T. Threet,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-18571 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
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