[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 16020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8889]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket S-935]


Weston Shipping Inc.; Application for Temporary Written Consent 
Pursuant to Section 506 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as Amended, 
For The Transfer Of The PRESIDENT HARRISON to the Domestic Coastwise 
Trade

    Notice is hereby given that Weston Shipping Inc. (Weston), a U.S 
company, by letter dated April 1, 1996, requests temporary written 
consent pursuant to section 506 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as 
amended (Act), for transfer of the construction-differential subsidy 
built containership PRESIDENT HARRISON (Vessel) to the domestic 
coastwise trade commencing June 1, 1996, until November 30, 1996, a 
period of six months. The Vessel is currently under charter to American 
President Lines (APL). The purpose of this request, Weston adds, is to 
permit the Vessel to haul cargo from the United States to Puerto Rico.
    According to Weston, the Vessel will be Jones Act eligible on 
November 30, 1996. Further, APL's bareboat charter will end on its own 
terms on July 31, 1996, and APL has advised Weston that it will not 
renew its charter. Given that fact, Weston advises that if consent is 
granted, it will attempt to immediately employ the Vessel in the Puerto 
Rico trade and terminate the remaining charter with APL. Weston 
contends, however, that if consent is not granted, it cannot 
financially afford to lay-up the Vessel until the Vessel becomes Jones 
Act eligible and therefore the Vessel will be scrapped on July 31, 
1996.
    It is Weston's view, however, that scrapping the Vessel would 
represent a further loss for the U.S.-flagged shipping industry. Weston 
believes that the Vessel has a good five to 10 years of useful life 
remaining and would provide full employment for at least 50 merchant 
mariners over that time period. Weston also believes that the Vessel 
would provide cost effective interstate trade between the United States 
and Puerto Rico.
    Any person, firm, or corporation having any interest in the 
application for section 506 consent and desiring to submit comments 
concerning Weston's request must by the close of business on April 23, 
1996 file written comments in triplicate, to the Secretary, Maritime 
Administration, Room 7210, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. The Maritime Administration, as a matter of 
discretion, will consider any comments submitted and take such action 
as may be deemed appropriate.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 20.800 
Construction-Differential Subsidies (CDS)).

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: April 4, 1996.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-8889 Filed 4-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P