[Senate Report 104-207]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress 2d Session        SENATE                 Report
                                                       104-207
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     

                                                       Calendar No. 309


 
         CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VESSEL ``AURA''

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 OF THE

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                   on

                                 S. 653




                January 26, 1996.--Ordered to be printed
       SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
                      one hundred fourth congress
                             second session

  LARRY PRESSLER, South Dakota, 
             Chairman
ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, South Carolina
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii             TED STEVENS, Alaska
WENDELL H. FORD, Kentucky            JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
J. JAMES EXON, Nebraska              CONRAD BURNS, Montana
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West VirginiaSLADE GORTON, Washington
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts         TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana            KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada             OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota        JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri
                                     BILL FRIST, Tennessee
  Patric G. Link, Chief of Staff
Kevin G. Curtin, Democratic Chief 
    Counsel and Staff Director

                                  (ii)
                                                       Calendar No. 309
104th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     104-207
_______________________________________________________________________


          CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VESSEL ``AURA''

                                _______


                January 26, 1996.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


      Mr. Pressler, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 653]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill (S. 653) ``A bill to authorize the 
Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of 
documentation with the appropriate endorsement for employment 
in the coastwise trade for the vessel Aura'', having considered 
the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and 
recommends that the bill do pass.

                          purpose of the bill

  S. 653, as reported, grants coastwise trading privileges to 
the vessel Aura.

                          background and needs

  Subject to certain limited exceptions, the law known as the 
Jones Act (section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920) and 
sections 12106 through 12108 of title 46, U.S. Code, provide 
that only those vessels built in the United States, 
continuously documented under the laws of the United States and 
continuously owned by U.S. citizens may transport merchandise 
or passengers in the coastwise trade, or engage in the 
fisheries, of the United States.
  Where the facts applicable to a particular vessel suggest the 
U.S.-built or U.S.-owned requirements have not been satisfied, 
the Coast Guard may not issue a document granting coastwise 
trading or fisheries privileges for that vessel unless the 
requirements of the Jones Act and the title 46 provisions are 
statutorily waived.
  The vessel Aura, U.S. official number 1027807, is a 55-foot 
cabin cruiser that was constructed in the Netherlands in 1958. 
It was purchased by Mr. Robert C. Scott and Mr. Michael 
Schiller of Scituate, Massachusetts. The vessel's owners intend 
to use it for charters out of Hull, Massachusetts.
  Because the vessel was foreign-built, the owners have not 
been able to obtain coastwise trade privileges for the Aura. 
Therefore, they are seeking a statutory waiver of the Jones Act 
and title 46 provisions for the vessel.

                          legislative history

  S. 653 was introduced in the Senate on March 30, 1995, by 
Senator Kerry. In open executive session on July 20, 1995, the 
Committee considered S. 653, and ordered the legislation 
reported favorably without objection and without amendment.

                            estimated costs

  In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate and Section 403 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the 
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, August 2, 1995.
Hon. Larry Pressler,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed the following bills, which were ordered reported by 
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
on July 20, 1995:
          S. 583, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        and coastwise trade endorsement for two vessels;
          S. 653, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        with the appropriate endorsement for employment in the 
        coastwise trade for the vessel Aura;
          S. 654, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        with the appropriate endorsement for employment in the 
        coastwise trade for the vessel Sunrise;
          S. 655, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        with the appropriate endorsement for employment in the 
        coastwise trade for the vessel Marantha;
          S. 656, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        with the appropriate endorsement for employment in the 
        coastwise trade for the vessel Quietly;
          S. 739, 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 Sisu, and for other 
        purposes;
          S. 763, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        and coastwise trade endorsement for the vessel Evening 
        Star, and for other purposes;
          S. 802, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        and coastwise trade endorsement for the vessel Royal 
        Affaire;
          S. 808, a bill to extend the deadline for the 
        conversion of the vessel M/V Twin Drill, and for other 
        purposes;
          S. 826, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        and with appropriate endorsement for employment in the 
        coastwise trade for the vessel Prime Time, and for 
        other purposes;
          S. 869, 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 Dragonessa, and for 
        other purposes;
          S. 889, 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 Wolf Gang II, and for 
        other purposes;
          S. 911, 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 Sea Mistress;
          S. 975, 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 Jajo, and for other 
        purposes;
          S. 1016, 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 Magic Carpet;
          S. 1017, 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 Chrissy;
          S. 1040, 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 Onrust;
          S. 1041, 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 Explorer;
          S. 1046, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        with appropriate endorsements for employment in the 
        coastwise trade of the United States for fourteen 
        former Untied States hovercraft; and
          S. 1047, a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation 
        for employment and coastwise trade endorsements for the 
        vessels Enchanged Isles and Enchanted Seas.
    Enactment of these bills would have no impact on the 
federal budget or on those of state or local governments. The 
bills would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, 
pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
    If you wish further details on this estimate we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                          June E. O'Neill Director.

                      regulatory impact statement

  In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the 
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the 
legislation, as reported.
  Because S. 653 does not create any new programs, the 
legislation will have no additional regulatory impact, and will 
result in no additional reporting requirements. The legislation 
will have no further effect on the number or types of 
individuals and businesses regulated, the economic impact of 
such regulation, the personal privacy of affected individuals, 
or the paperwork required from such individuals and businesses.

                      section-by-section analysis

  The bill consists of one section. It provides that, 
notwithstanding sections 12106, 12107, and 12108 of title 46, 
U.S. Code, and section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 
U.S.C. App. 883), as applicable on the date of enactment of 
this bill, the vessel Aura, U.S. official number 1027807, is 
eligible to engage in the coastwise trade and the Secretary of 
Transportation may issue a certificate of documentation for 
such vessel.

                        changes in existing law

  In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the bill as 
reported would make no change to existing law.

                                
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