[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59133-59135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29697]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket MSP-005]


Sea-Trader Co.; Notice of Application Pursuant to Section 656 of 
the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as Amended (Act)

    Sea-Trader Co. (Sea-Trader), by application received October 18, 
1996, and supplemented November 6, 1996, applied under Section 651, 
Subtitle B, of the Act for participation in the Maritime Security 
Program (MSP). In support of its application Sea-Trader submitted 
information pertaining to its level of noncontiguous domestic trade 
service. Pursuant to section 656 of the Act, the Maritime 
Administration must determine Sea-Trader's level of noncontiguous 
domestic trade service should it become party to a MSP operating 
agreement.
    In support of its request, Sea-Trader described the level of 
service of its affiliated company Northland Services, Inc. (Northland) 
in noncontiguous domestic trade service. Sea-Trader noted that with 
respect to Northland's seasonal tug/barge service to all points in 
Northwestern Alaska, in the one-year period prior to July 1, 1992, the 
carrying capacity and the number of sailings to the ports of primarily 
Anchorage, Naknek, Bethel, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor and Nome were as 
follows in table 1:

          Table 1.--Northland Services, Inc., Seasonal Service          
   [A voyage recap of tug/barge services to all points in Northwestern  
                 Alaska one year prior to July 1, 1992]                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sailing date        Barge             Teu cap            Itinerary      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7/91........  BANDON...........  180.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
8/91........  KENAI TRADER.....  432.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
9/91........  FOSS 343.........  550.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
3/92........  POLAR TRADER.....  210.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
4/92........  FOSS 343.........  550.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
4/92........  SOUTHEAST TRADER.  210.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
5/92........  FOSS 343.........  550.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
5/92........  KENAI TRADER.....  432.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
6/92........  FOSS 343.........  550.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    

[[Page 59134]]

                                                                        
6/92........  BARANOF TRADER...  210.............  Seattle, Anch.,      
                                                    Naknek, Bethel,     
                                                    Dill'ham, Dutch     
                                                    Harbor and Nome.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sea-Trader further noted that the tonnage shipped on these ten 
voyages approximates 60,000 tons per year (the tonnage shipped in 1992 
was approximately 45,000 tons).
    Northland ships in excess of 100,000 tons of cargo per year in its 
Southeast Alaska service. For a list of all the vessels utilized by 
Northland in its Southeastern Alaska, far North Alaska and Eastern 
Russia services table 2 was provided as follows.

                                                     Table 2.--Northland Services, Inc., Vessel List                                                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Flag of                                                                         
          Vessel name                       Specific type               registry      Owned/leased    Period of charter         Area of operation       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M/V POLAR STAR, Off. No. 281729  Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
M/V TAURUS, Off. No. 571411....  Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
M/V POLAR WIND, Off. No. 565506  Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Owned............  Puget Sound &                                     
                                                                                                       Alaska.                                          
M/V POLAR WOLF, Off. No. 266460  Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Owned............  Puget Sound &                                     
                                                                                                       Alaska.                                          
M/V LEONARD M, Off. No. 252290.  Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
M/V GENE DUNLAP, Off. No.        Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 540227.                                                                                                                                                
M/V L.T. CAMPBELL, Off. No.      Ocean Tug..........................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 510653.                                                                                                                                                
M/V SEA TRADER, Off. No. 573519  Ocean Freighter....................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound, Japan, Russia &   
                                                                                                                          Alaska.                       
M/V POLAR VENTURE, Off. No.      Ocean Freighter....................  U.S.         Owned............  Puget Sound &                                     
 571565.                                                                                               Alaska.                                          
S/B POLAR TRADER, Off. No.       Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 589397.                                                                                                                                                
S/B BANDON, Off. No. 284042....  Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Owned............  Puget Sound &                                     
                                                                                                       Alaska.                                          
S/B ZPC-401, Off. No. 607224...  Dry Cargo/Oil Barge................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
S/B KVICHAK TRADER, Off. No.     Dry Cargo/ Oil Barge...............  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 538528.                                                                                                                                                
S/B BARANOF TRADER, Off. No.     Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 635398.                                                                                                                                                
S/B NB165, Off. No. 277984.....  Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Owned............  Alaska...........                                 
S/B NB200, Off. No. 279630.....  Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Owned............  Alaska...........                                 
S/B SOUTHEAST TRADER, Off. No.   Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 601253.                                                                                                                                                
S/B NUSHAGAK TRADER, Off. No.    Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Owned............  Puget Sound &                                     
 566207.                                                                                               Alaska.                                          
S/B KENAI TRADER, Off. No.       Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 645500.                                                                                                                                                
S/B NAKNEK TRADER, Off. No.      Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Leased...........  Yearly...........  Puget Sound & Alaska.          
 647441.                                                                                                                                                
S/B BRISTOL BAY TRADER, Off.     Dry Cargo Barge....................  U.S.         Owned............  Puget Sound &                                     
 No. 647441.                                                                                           Alaska.                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Other Vessels Owned by Northland Services, Inc.            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Vessel name                 Type             Size         Age  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLAR BEAVER.................  Tugboat........  45 ft..........     1945
POLAR SCOUT..................  Tugboat........  39 ft..........     1964
POLAR CUB....................  Tugboat........  44 ft..........     1945
POLAR FOX....................  Tugboat........  55 ft..........     1968
NB 150.......................  Barge..........  150 ft x 48 ft.     1967
BRISTOL BAY TRADER...........  Barge..........  300 ft x 90 ft.     1984
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sea-Trader noted that the only other vessel operated by Northland 
prior to August 9, 1995 was the SEA TRADER. The maximum carrying 
capacity of the SEA TRADER is 164 TEU (116 TEU at 11.5 mt/TEU) and 1204 
light tons. The number of sailings and ports called by the SEA TRADER 
for the one-year period prior to August 9, 1995 is set forth in Table 
3.

[[Page 59135]]



                            Table 3.--Northland Services, Inc., for vessel SEA TRADER                           
          [A voyage recap of noncontiguous domestic trade service for one year prior to August 9, 1995]         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Depart                                  Capacity                                    Itinerary          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/12/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/ST.GEO./DUTCH HARBOR/
                                                                                    ST.GEO./DUTCH HARBOR.       
1/18/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR.        
1/20/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/ST.GEO.              
1/29/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR/ST.GEO./
                                                                                    DUTCH HARBOR.               
2/4/95.................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR/ST.GEO. 
2/8/95.................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR/ST.GEO. 
2/14/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR/SITKA/  
                                                                                    ST.GEO.                     
2/26/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR/TANAGA  
                                                                                    BAY/DUTCH HARBOR.           
3/7/95.................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/DUTCH HARBOR/ST.GEO. 
3/12/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  ST.PAUL/KODIAK/KETCHIKAN/    
                                                                                    SEATTLE/PETRO,RU5/12/95     
6/10/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  DUTCH HARBOR/NAKNEK/         
                                                                                    TOMAKOMAI,JA/PETRO,RU.      
7/16/95................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  DUTCH HARBOR/KETCHUKAN/      
                                                                                    SEATTLE.                    
9/3/95.................                                       164 TEU and 1204 LT  DUTCH HARBOR/KORSAKOV/       
                                                                                    PETROSAKH REFINERY/KORSAKOV.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to Northland's scheduled service to Southeastern 
Alaska for the one-year period prior to July 1, 1992, the vessels and 
their carrying capacity were as follows in table 4.

                              Table 4.--Northland Services, Inc., Scheduled Service                             
   [A voyage recap of tug/barge services to all points in Southeastern Alaska one year prior to July 1, 1992]   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Sailings                                                         
                  Frequency                    per year                       Barge                      TEU cap
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 weeks......................................        26  NUSHAGAK TRADER...............................      336
2 weeks......................................        26  KWIGAK TRADER.................................      320
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any person, firm or corporation having any interest in the 
application for section 656 consent and desiring to submit comments 
concerning Sea-Trader's request must by 5:00 PM December 20, 1996 (30 
days after the date of publication) file comments in triplicate to the 
Secretary, Maritime Administration, Room 7210, Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: November 15, 1996.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-29697 Filed 11-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P