[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21387]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 94-065]

 

Centralization of Vessel Documentation Activities; Implementation 
Plan; Public Meetings

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings; notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the first two of a series of public 
meetings to be held by the Coast Guard to discuss plans to close vessel 
documentation offices in 14 cities, and to centralize all vessel 
documentation activities at a single location. In addition, it 
announces availability of the Coast Guard's implementation plan to 
ensure an orderly transition.

DATES: The initial meetings will take place on September 7, 1994, from 
9 a.m. to noon in New Orleans, LA, and September 9, 1994, from 9 a.m. 
to noon in Washington, D.C.

ADDRESSES: The meeting in New Orleans will be held in Room 1120 of the 
Hale Boggs Federal Building, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 
70130. The meeting in Washington, DC will be held in Room 2415 at U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street S.W., Washington, DC 
20593-0001.
    Copies of the implementation plan are available from Commandant (G-
MVI-5), U.S. Coast Guard, Room 1312, 2100 Second Street, S.W., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Laura Burley, Vessel Documentation and Tonnage Survey Branch, 
Merchant Vessel Inspection and Documentation Division, Office of Marine 
Safety, Security and Environmental Protection. Telephone, (202) 267-
1492, telefax, (202) 267-4177.
    Normal office hours are between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The first two meetings will be held in New 
Orleans, LA, and Washington, DC. The purpose of the meetings is to 
discuss the Coast Guard's implementation plan, and to obtain input from 
and educate the affected community and general public with regard to 
revised procedures and planned innovations. The planned centralization 
is part of the Coast Guard's ongoing efforts to provide the maximum 
service to the maritime community, while seeking to reduce costs.
    The implementation plan describes in general terms the steps and 
procedures which the Coast Guard will follow in achieving 
centralization while maintaining full customer service.

Meeting Participation

    It is unnecessary to file a written request to participate in the 
meeting. The Coast Guard will discuss its implementation plan and 
solicit input from the public for the purpose of ensuring an orderly 
transition to the central site. Individuals will also be afforded an 
opportunity to leave informal written comments on specific areas of 
concern.
    Following the public meetings, the Cost Guard will consider the 
input from the public and may revise its implementation plan 
accordingly.

Background

    Vessel Documentation is a form of national registration for 
vessels, which among other things, serve to establish a vessel's 
nationality and qualification to be employed in specified trades. The 
benefits of documenting a vessel are practical, legal and financial.
    The salient practical benefit of documentation is to ensure 
unencumbered interstate and international commerce. The existence of a 
Federal system of documentation serves to preempt state numbering and 
regulatory schemes, with the result that a vessel operated under a 
Federal endorsement is ensured access to state waters for various 
activities. Another practical benefit of Federal documentation stems 
from the preferential customs and tax treatment accorded to ``vessels 
of the United States''. Established national policy seeks to promote 
the existence of an American merchant marine as a resource to be drawn 
upon in time of emergency or war. To the extent that documentation is a 
condition precedent to the receipt of preferential customs and tax 
treatment, it serves as a tool to promote national policy interests.
    The legal benefits of documentation include establishing conclusive 
evidence of nationality for international purposes, thereby conferring 
the privileges, protections, and immunities contemplated by long-
standing international law and custom. Vessels on the high seas which 
are not registered in a national system may be deemed to be 
``stateless'' vessels, subject to boarding by foreign authorities 
without restriction. Another legal benefit conferred by documentation 
is the establishment of entitlement to engage in certain restricted 
trades and employments, such as coastwise or Great Lakes trade, the 
U.S. fisheries, towing, and dredging.
    The major financial benefit conferred by documentation is preferred 
mortgage financing. The availability of capital for maritime financing 
often hinges upon the existence of the preferred mortgage as security 
for loans against vessels. Unlike so-called ``ordinary mortgages,'' 
preferred mortgages rise to the level of a maritime lien, thereby 
taking precedence over non-maritime liens as well as maritime liens 
which arise after perfection of the preferred mortgage. Preferred 
mortgages, which are enforceable against the vessel in Federal court 
wherever the vessel is found are critical not only for large commercial 
vessels, but also provide protection for mortgages of recreational 
vessels, thereby helping to ensure the continued existence of the 
recreational vessel building industry in the U.S.

Purpose of Centralization

    The vessel documentation program has grown exponentially during the 
course of recent years. The Coast Guard has identified centralization 
as a means by which it can meet the challenge of maintaining and 
improving levels of service to its customers through significant gains 
in functional and administrative practices. No longer will it be 
necessary for members of industry, law enforcement officials, and the 
boating public to make inquiries at multiple points to receive 
information on documented vessels. Mortgagees and lien claimants will 
have a single point for filing instruments. Inconsistencies that result 
from interpretation of statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements 
at multiple points would be eliminated. Workloads will be evenly 
distributed so that backlogs caused by seasonal fluctuations in 
maritime activities could be reduced or eliminated. The impact of 
absence of personnel due to retirement, illness, or unforeseen 
circumstances will be minimized.
    With all records consolidated, it will be feasible to develop a 
system permitting the public to file instruments through electronic 
means, thus enhancing vessel financing by permitting instantaneous 
perfection of mortgages and related instruments.
    Management overhead will be reduced through better space management 
by eliminating duplicate facilities in 14 locations. Moreover, most 
offices are currently located in high cost areas; consolidation will 
make it possible to locate all facilities in an area with lower real 
estate costs for the government.

Meetings

    The meetings will be held in New Orleans, LA; Washington, DC; New 
York, NY; Miami, FL; St. Louis, MO; Los Angeles, CA; and Seattle, WA.
    The meetings are open to the public and will convene as follows:
    On September 7, 1994, from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 1120, Hale Boggs 
Federal Building, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130.
    On September 9, 1994, from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 2415, U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20593-
0001.
    The dates and addresses for the remaining meetings will be 
announced in a future edition of the Federal Register.

    Dated: August 24, 1994.
J.F. McGowan,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 94-21387 Filed 8-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M