[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 10521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5630]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket A(32b1)-1-97]


Foreign-Trade Zone 62--Brownsville, TX; Request for Manufacturing 
Authority AMFELS, Inc. (Offshore Drilling Platforms/Shipbuilding)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Brownsville Navigation District, grantee of FTZ 62, 
pursuant to Sec. 400.32(b)(1) of the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 
400), requesting authority on behalf of AMFELS, Inc. (AMFELS)(a 
subsidiary of FELS Offshore PTE Ltd., of Singapore), for the 
manufacture, refurbishment and repair of mobile offshore drilling and 
other oceangoing vessels under FTZ procedures within FTZ 62. It was 
formally filed on February 25, 1997.
    AMFELS operates a 133-acre facility (800 employees) within FTZ 62-
Site 8 (Brownsville Navigation District) for the manufacture, 
refurbishment and repair of offshore petroleum drilling/production 
platforms (HTSUS#8905.20), classified as oceangoing vessels. Up to 70 
percent of the components of the platforms are purchased from foreign 
sources, including steel plates, high pressure pipes and fittings, 
electric cables, and steel cable anchor chains (1997 duty rate range: 
free-6.2%, ad valorem).
    This application requests authority to allow AMFELS to conduct the 
activity under FTZ procedures, subject to the ``standard shipyard 
restriction'' applicable to foreign-origin steel mill products, which 
requires that full duties be paid on such items.
    FTZ procedures would exempt AMFELS from Customs duty payments on 
the foreign components used in export activity (currently 100% of 
shipments). On its domestic sales, the company would be able to choose 
the duty rate that applies to finished oceangoing vessels (duty free) 
for the foreign electric cables and cable anchor chains noted above. 
Foreign-sourced steel mill products, such as pipe and plate, would be 
subject to the full Customs duties applicable to those items. FTZ 
procedures would also exempt certain merchandise from certain ad 
valorem inventory taxes. The application indicates that the savings 
from FTZ procedures would help improve the facility's international 
competitiveness.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to 
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing 
period for their receipt is April 7, 1997. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to April 21, 1997).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the following location: Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-
Trade Zones Board, Room 3716, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street 
& Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

    Dated: February 27, 1997.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-5630 Filed 3-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P