[Senate Report 104-306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 481
104th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     104-306
_______________________________________________________________________


 
    CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VESSEL ``COURIER SERVICE''

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                   on

                                S. 1826




                 June 27, 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 J. SNOWE, Maine
RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada             JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota        BILL FRIST, Tennessee
RON WYDEN, Oregon                    SPENCER ABRAHAM, Michigan
  Patric G. Link, Chief of Staff
Kevin G. Curtin, Democratic Chief 
    Counsel and Staff Director

                                                       Calendar No. 481
104th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     104-306
_______________________________________________________________________


    CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VESSEL ``COURIER SERVICE''

                                _______
                                

                 June 27, 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. 1826]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill (S. 1826) ``A bill to authorize the 
Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of 
documentation and coastwise trade endorsement for the vessel 
Courier Service'', having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.

                          purpose of the bill

    S. 1826, as reported, grants coastwise trading privileges 
to the vessel Courier Service.

                          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 title 46 are 
statutorily waived.
    The vessel Courier Service, Vanuatu official number 688, is 
a 96-foot offshore supply vessel that was constructed in Morgan 
City, Louisiana, in 1982. It was purchased by Southern River 
Estates, Inc. of Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1995. The vessel's 
owner intends to use it for fishing out of Biloxi, Mississippi.
    Because the vessel was previously foreign-owned and 
foreign-registered, the owner has not been able to obtain 
coastwise trade privileges for the Courier Service. Therefore, 
he is seeking a statutory waiver of the Jones Act and title 46 
for the vessel.

                          legislative history

    S. 1682 was introduced in the Senate on June 3, 1996, by 
Senator Lott. In open executive session on June 6, 1996, the 
Committee considered S. 1626, 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, June 14, 1996.
Hon. Larry Pressler,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed several bills, which were ordered reported by the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on 
June 6, 1996. Enacting these bills would have no impact on the 
federal budget. The bills do not contain intergovernmental or 
private-sector mandates as defined in Public Law 104-4, and 
would not impose direct costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments. The bills would not affect direct spending or 
receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. 
The bills reviewed are:
          S. 1648, 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 Herco Tyme;
          S. 1682, 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 Liberty; and for other 
        purposes;
          S. 1825, 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 Halcyon;
          S. 1826, 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 Courier Service; and
          S. 1828, 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 Top Gun; and for other 
        purposes.
    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. 1826 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 anaylsis

    The bill consists of one section. It provides that, 
notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 
App. U.S.C. 883), section 8 of the Act of June 19, 1886 (24 
Stat. 81, chapter 421; 46 U.S.C. App. 289), and sections 12106 
through 12108 of title 46, U.S. Code, as applicable on the date 
of enactment of this Act, the vessel Courier Service, Vanuatu 
official number 688, 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.

                                
