[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18268]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket P-008]

Waterman Steamship Corporation

 

Notice of Request for Secretarial Directive to the Department of 
Agriculture Concerning the Ocean Transportation of Title II Preference 
Cargoes

    By letter dated July 1, 1994, and accompanying brief, Waterman 
Steamship Corporation (Waterman) requests that the Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) require the Department of Agriculture 
(Agriculture) to comply with the Maritime Administration's June 16, 
1986, Prioritization letter; require the allocation of preference 
cargoes by destination; and require the elimination of bidding 
procedures which compel U.S.-flag dry cargo liner vessels to bid 
against foreign competitors and/or non-liner U.S.-flag vessels for the 
carriage of preference cargoes generated by the Pub. L. 480 program, 7 
U.S.C. 1721 et seq., Title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954, (Pub. L. 480).
    Waterman alleges that Agriculture is improperly administering its 
cargo preference program in three critically important respects, 
thereby impeding Waterman's participation in the cargo preference 
program.
    (1) Waterman alleges that Agriculture is violating the Maritime 
Administration's ``prioritization rule'' issued June 16, 1986, in that 
Agriculture is allocating preference cargo to ports where all U.S.-flag 
service is not available and is then fixing the cargo on mixed service, 
i.e. U.S.-flag vessels with foreign-flag feeder vessels.
    (2) Waterman alleges that Agriculture is violating the Cargo 
Preference Act of 1954, as amended, 46 App. U.S.C. 1241, (the 1954 Act) 
by failing to administer its Pub. L. 480 program in such manner as to 
insure fair and reasonable participation of U.S.-flag vessels by 
geographic destination areas.
    (3) Waterman alleges that Agriculture is violating the 1954 Act 
through bidding procedures which require U.S.-flag dry cargo liner 
vessels to bid against foreign-flag and/or non-liner U.S.-flag vessels 
for preference cargoes which should be reserved for U.S.-flag liner 
vessels.
    This request may be inspected in the Office of the Secretary, 
Maritime Administration. Any person, firm, or corporation having any 
interest in such request and desiring to submit comments concerning the 
application must file written comments in triplicate with the 
Secretary, Maritime Administration, Room 7300, Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. Comments must be received no 
later than 5:00 p.m. on August 17, 1994. This notice is published as a 
matter of discretion and publication should in no way be considered a 
favorable or unfavorable decision on the request, as filed or as may be 
amended.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: July 21, 1994.
Joel C. Richard,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-18268 Filed 7-26-4; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P