[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26272-26273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11316]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7328]


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 TA MANA.

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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 June 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7328. 
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

[[Page 26273]]

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: TA MANA Owner: Helmut ``Bernard'' Quante.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: According to the 
Applicant ``The vessel measures 36' (LOA) and weighs 8.25 tons (weight 
according to ship builder's plaque inside of vessel--7,340 Kg).''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The 
intended use for the vessel would be carrying up to six passengers for 
touring the San Francisco Bay and the Gulf of the Farrallones. The boat 
is of a very seakindly design, some sister ships sailed around Cape 
Horn.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1981, place of construction: Fecamp, Normandy, 
France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``The home port and intended area of operation is San Francisco, the 
most visited city in the whole United States, perhaps the world. There 
are a number of large operators that tour the Bay with ferry-size 
vessels and some larger sailing vessels that can take up to 49 
passengers. They all seem to do brisk business. I am planning to target 
French and German speaking tourist, offering a hands-on sailing 
experience where the guests participate in handling the boat. I believe 
that the presence of my operation will have a minute impact on the 
overall picture.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``My boat is constructed of 
aluminum. Very few shipyards do build equivalent boats, if any. However 
I have been given local shipyards a fair amount of business from 
regular haul outs for maintenance and bottom painting to welding and 
paint jobs, installation of a new engine, etc. Ship chandlers and sail 
makers profited from outfitting my boat with brand new electronics, a 
galley and new sails. The interior became a near rebuilt. I sailed the 
vessel to the Hawaiian Islands four times under the Ocean Racers Rules. 
Consequently, the safety equipment on board exceeds U.S. Coast Guard 
requirement.''

    Dated: May 2, 2000.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-11316 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P