[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15195-15196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6895]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7071]


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 GAFIA.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 105-383, the Secretary of 
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 
is

[[Page 15196]]

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 Pub. L. 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 
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 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7071.
    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 Pub. L. 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 part 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: GAFIA Owner: Donald A. Depoy.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: Size: 30'8" LOA, beam 
9'7" draft 5'0". Capacity and tonnage: measured by title 46 U.S.C. Sub-
part E 69.207-209 Simplified Measurement System: 14.6 tons.
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Carry 
passenger for hire (6-pack) in the coastal waters of Maine, 
specifically the Penobscot and Frenchman Bay Region.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1973, place of construction: Nortessund Shipyard, 
Orust, Sweden.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``This waiver will have little if any impact on the existing passenger 
vessel operators in the region. The vessel's port of call, Belfast, 
Maine has no passenger vessel operations of any type at the time of 
this application. Passengers using the services of this vessel will be 
departing from and returning to Belfast, Maine. The vessel will be used 
for 3-daily, 3-hour cruises and an occasional overnight passages 
beginning and ending in Belfast.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``It is inconceivable that there 
would be any impact on any U.S. shipyard. The vessel was built in 1973 
and had a 1999 purchase cost of less than $25,000. No U.S. ship builder 
offers such a vessel at this price.''

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: March 15, 2000.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-6895 Filed 3-20-00; 8:45 am]
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