[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 44 (Monday, March 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 11830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5346]



[[Page 11830]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No: MARAD-2000-6999]


Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative 
waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel Victory of Burnham.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 105-383, the Secretary of 
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 
is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S. build requirement of the 
coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver 
has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a description of the 
proposed service, is listed below. Interested parties may comment on 
the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses 
in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines that in 
accordance with P.L. 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR 388 (65 
FR 6905; February 11, 2000) that the issuance of the waiver will have 
an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that 
uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will not be granted.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-6999. 
Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket 
Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400 
7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. You may also send comments 
electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All 
comments will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection and copying at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An electronic 
version of this document and all documents entered into this docket is 
available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hokana, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR 832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-0760.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of Public Law 105-383 provides 
authority to the Secretary of Transportation to administratively waive 
the U.S.-build requirements of the Jones Act, and other statutes, for 
small commercial passenger vessels (less than 12 passengers). This 
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR 
1.66, Delegations to the Maritime Administrator, as amended. By this 
notice, MARAD is publishing information on a vessel for which a request 
for a U.S.-build waiver has been received, and for which MARAD requests 
comments from interested parties. Comments should refer to the docket 
number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to 
properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the 
commentor's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver 
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR 388.

Vessel Proposed for Waiver of the U.S.-Build Requirement

    (1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested: Victory 
of Burnham, Owner: Mr. Jay Scott.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: 44' foot sailboat of 15 
gross tons, 13 net tons, displacing 22,280 pounds measured by the 
United States Sailing Association. She will carry six passengers.
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The 
intended use of this vessel is to provide sail racing and team building 
charters in Northeastern Florida, and Southeastern Georgia, 
specifically Amelia Island, Fl.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
The sailboat was built in Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom in 1981.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``I 
believe by granting this waiver it will have no impact on other charter 
boats in the area. The majority are fishing vessels and the few 6 
passenger cruising/sightseeing vessels in the area do not offer racing 
or team building. Tourism has grown to such an extent on Amelia Island 
that there were not enough charter sailboats to keep up with the demand 
last year and some people had to be turned away.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``In reference to United States 
shipyards, the only impact would be positive, because of the following 
facts: I purchased Victory of Burnham in 1991 for $56,000. Since that 
time I have spent $45,000 on U.S. built spars, rigging, and sails, 
$21,000 at U.S. yards for rebuilding the hull, $2,000 for rebuilding 
the keel and $13,000 on U.S. made electronics.''
    Additional information supplied by the applicant: ``Victory of 
Burnham has spent 19 of her 20 years in the United States. She served 
the United States Navy at the Naval Academy, for many years training 
Midshipmen. I would like to continue her tradition of team-building.''

    Dated: February 29, 2000.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-5346 Filed 3-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P