[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12613-12614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5638]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No: MARAD-2000-7011]
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 KIRSTEN ANNE.
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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 10, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7011.
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., S.W., Washington, D.C. 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: Name of
vessel: KIRSTEN ANNE, Owner: Robert and Laurie Lindsey.
(2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: The KIRSTEN ANNE measures
48.5 feet in length and displaces 29 net tons, 33 gross tons. The
capacity of the vessel is 12 passengers or less.
(3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``If a waiver
is granted, we intend to use this vessel to carry passengers for hire
on sailing wildlife/adventure cruises, scientific research charters,
whale watching/videography, and Eco-tourism to the refuges and National
Monuments in our area of opportunity. We will operate this vessel in
the greater Kodiak Island Archipelago and Gulf of Alaska. Some
anticipated offerings will be cruises of the Katmai coast and birding
expeditions in the Kodiak area as well as the Alaska Peninsula. We look
forward to offering the scientific community an affordable alternative
for long-range /duration studies involving Stellar Sea Lions and
seabirds.''
(4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding.
Date of construction: 1979, place of construction: Taiwan.
(5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:
``The Kodiak Island area is in its infancy of charter work with a
small but competent group of operators who offer primarily fishing
charters and hunting support. Although many of the vessels offer some
Whale watching/Ecotourism type charters, there are no sailing vessels
involved in charter work in the Kodiak area. Unofficially, halibut
fishing is the largest group of charter operations, Salmon fishing
would be second, and Hunter support is third and general sightseeing is
the smallest segment of the charter fleet.
We feel the economics are so marginal that we can only afford to
offer this service because we were able to purchase our vessel for a
very reasonable price. Already established in this area, we can
subsidize the operation through startup with income from our other
occupations. The only impact that a waiver will have on other
operations in this area would be positive based on exposure, a service
not previously offered and additional draw for tourists to visit
Kodiak. The replacement value of our vessel is approximately $380,000.
If that were the only way to start a sail charter operation, it would
not be economically feasible in this market.
(6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S.
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``The effect a waiver on local
shipbuilding /repair in this area would be positive because we will be
using our vessel more than we do now which will have the effect of
revenue for local businesses. We anticipate some additional equipment
may be necessary to begin operations. This equipment will be contracted
with locally owned businesses and purchased in Kodiak. Should we need
any modifications or repairs to the boat as our business grows, we will
use local shipyards and chandlers. There is no shipbuilding other than
small one-off aluminum boat shops on Kodiak Island and no large boat
builders in the state of Alaska. When our operation becomes successful,
we anticipate the need for an American built sailboat designed
specifically for this area. Our concept of this vessel would be
approximately 65-80 feet in length displacing at least 50 tons. This
new vessel will be an American built motorsailer with enhanced diving
support and capable of extended cruises. Clearly, we are dedicated to
this concept and feel that the only impact on shipbuilding would be
positive.''
Dated: March 3, 2000.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-5638 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
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