[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 16454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7606]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7090]


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 JUST DESSERT.

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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 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 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7090.
    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 388.

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

    (1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested: name: 
``JUST DESSERT'', owner: Michael J. & Dawn G. Baldacchino.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: Hull length 44.2", beam: 
13.6', depth: 6.5', tonnages: Gross--20, Net--18, measured pursuant to 
46 U.S.C. 14502.
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``We are 
retired live-aboards, using our sailboat as our home. Our intention is 
to travel along the coastal United States (all coasts) and overseas 
(circumnavigate). We will be picking up crew, visitors, and friends for 
periods of time and legs of our journey who will pay for the segment 
that they are aboard to supplement our retirement income.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1990 Place of original construction: Cedex, 
France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``We 
believe that there will be no impact on any local or existing 
commercial passenger vessel operators as our commercial impact will be 
transient and sporadic in nature.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. In addition to the statement above, also according to the 
applicant: ``We believe that this waiver will have no or insignificant 
impact on U.S. shipyards.''

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: March 23, 2000.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-7606 Filed 3-27-00; 8:45 am]
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