[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7456-S7457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD:
  S. 1261. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue 
a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for 
employment in the coastwise trade for the vessel Yankee; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


         certificate of documentation for the vessel ``yankee''

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
waive the 1920 Merchant Marine Act, commonly known as the Jones Act, to 
allow Yankee Sailing, LLC to operate the 1959 Holland-built vessel 
YANKEE.
  Yankee Sailing LLC is a family-owned business based out of New 
London, Connecticut that intends to provide 2-4 hour day sails out of 
the New

[[Page S7457]]

London and Mystic areas in the summer months. In an effort to provide 
year-round sailing opportunities, Yankee Sailing LLC also hopes to 
offer 1-2 week sail training trips along the coast in the fall and 
winter. The YANKEE is equipped to carry 25-35 daytime passengers and 8-
10 overnight passengers, and does not pose any threat to larger U.S. 
shipping interests.
  The YANKEE is a vessel of considerable historical significance having 
been designed by and built for one of New England's most famous 
contemporary sailors, the late Irving Johnson. The YANKEE shares a 
well-established relationship with the Mystic Seaport Museum where the 
Johnson Collection is housed, and it was also the centerpiece for an 
Irving Johnson reunion held at the Seaport this past October.
  The owners request the waiver because while the vessel was originally 
documented in the United States with a home port of Mystic, CT, it was 
built in Holland and is, therefore, excluded from coastal trade by the 
Jones Act. The owners were aware of the Jones Act's restrictions, 
however, they were unclear as to its applicability with regard to a 
vessel's size. Their understanding was that the act only pertained to 
vessels 65 feet in length or greater carrying over six passengers. 
Yankee Sailing LLC hoped to operate with six passengers to generate 
revenue until they could receive full certification allowing for larger 
sailing trips. Due to this confusion regarding the law, Yankee Sailing 
LLC is unable to provide these small sailing trips and suffers 
financially as a consequence.
  Yankee Sailing LLC wishes to provide residents of southeastern 
Connecticut the opportunity to experience the excitement of sailing and 
did not willfully violate the Jones Act. The presence of its services 
will help stimulate the local economy and tourism in a region 
attempting to promote an economic renaissance.
  Based upon all of the combined facts, I believe a waiver should be 
granted for the YANKEE. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1261

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION.

       Notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 
     (46 U.S.C. App. 883), section 8 of the Act of June 19, 1886 
     (24 Stat. 81, chapter 421; 46 U.S.C. App. 289), and sections 
     12106 and 12108 of title 46, United States Code, the 
     Secretary of Transportation may issue a certificate of 
     documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in 
     the coastwise trade for the vessel YANKEE, United States 
     official number 1076210.
                                 ______