[Senate Report 104-219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




104th Congress 2d Session        SENATE                 Report
                                                       104-219
_______________________________________________________________________


                                                       Calendar No. 321



 
     CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VESSEL ``SEA MISTRESS''

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                   on

                                 S. 911




                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   TED STEVENS, Alaska
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii             JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
WENDELL H. FORD, Kentucky            CONRAD BURNS, Montana
J. JAMES EXON, Nebraska              SLADE GORTON, Washington
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West VirginiaTRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts         KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana            OLYMPIA SNOWE, Maine
RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada             JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota        BILL FRIST, Tennessee
  Patric G. Link, Chief of Staff
Kevin G. Curtin, Democratic Chief 
    Counsel and Staff Director
                                                       Calendar No. 321
104th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     104-219
_______________________________________________________________________



      CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VESSEL ``SEA MISTRESS''
                                _______


                January 26, 1996.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


 Mr. Pressler, introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 911]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill joint resolution deg. (S. 
911) TITLE deg. ``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'', having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon without with deg. amendment 
and recommends that the bill joint resolution deg. do 
pass.

                          purpose of the bill

    S. 911, as reported, grants coastwise trading privileges to 
the vessel Sea Mistress.

                          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 Sea Mistress, U.S. official number 696806, is a 
41-foot aluminum dinner boat that was constructed in Kentucky 
in 1974. It was purchased by Mr. David Yornell. The vessel's 
owner intends to use it for dinner boat excursions out of 
Occocuan, Virginia.
    Because there is a break in the chain of title due to the 
seizure of the vessel by the Internal Revenue Service, the 
owner has not been able to obtain coastwise trade privileges 
for the Sea Mistress. Therefore, he is seeking a statutory 
waiver of the Jones Act for the vessel.

                          legislative history

    S. 911 was introduced in the Senate on June 9, 1995, by 
Senator Robb. In open executive session on July 20, 1995, the 
Committee considered S. 911, 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 and with 
appropriate endorsements for employment in the coastwise trade 
of the United States for fourteen former United 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 
Enchanted 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, 
who can be reached at 226-2860.
            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. 911 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 section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 
U.S.C. App. 883), the Act of June 19, 1886 (24 Stat. 81, 
chapter 421; 46 U.S.C. App. 289), and section 12106 of title 
46, U.S. Code, as applicable on the date of enactment of this 
bill, the vessel Sea Mistress, U.S. official number 696806, 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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