[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 242 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78527-78528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32012]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-8519]


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 GINGERSNAP.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Pub. L. 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

[[Page 78528]]

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 January 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-8519. 
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: Gordon Angell, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh 
Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-5129.

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 (no more than 12 passengers). This 
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR 
Sec. 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 
commenter'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: GINGERSNAP. Owner: Wesley Adams & Susan Adams.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Length--26', Beam 8', Depth 6', Capacity 12 passengers, 
Tonnage 6.7 tons (measured by taking: the dry weight of the vessel = 
7,500 lb she draws 3ft of her 6' hull thus displacing more than twice 
her weight 7,500  x  2 = 15000/2,240 lb = 6.696).''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``This vessel 
would be used as a sight-seeing boat in the Port Ludlow, WA area. 
Giving tourists a chance to see the surrounding waters on a vessel 
similar to those used in the area at the turn of the century.'' ``The 
intended area of operation will include the north Puget Sound areas of 
Port Ludlow, north Hoods Canal, and Admiralty Inlet from Point No Point 
to Point Wilson (Washington State).''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: Unknown. Place of construction: Unknown.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``There are currently three Charter Services operating out of the Port 
Ludlow area: Captain Bry's Charters: Which I own. Currently operating a 
26' sailboat. Specializing in 2 hour Sailboat Cruises & Lessons. 
Captain Larry's Adventures: Operating a 26' Orca Marine recreational 
fishing vessel specializing in day trips and fishing excursions. My new 
vessel will not compete at all with fishing (as it is not a fishing 
boat at all,) and as for tours * * * his boat cruises at 40knts and 
GINGERSNAP tops out at 9knts. Not really the same market. PCO Marine: 
Operating a 44' Tolly Motor Yacht. PCO specializes in day cruises 
featuring creature comforts and food and beverage service. Luxury 
cruises. As for the effect that Gingersnap will have on his business, 
Captain Ottnes is retired and runs the charters as a hobby. Gingersnap 
will not take away anyone that wants luxury * * * she's comfortable, 
but not luxurious--and not fast. There are also charters available from 
Port Townsend (most notably Captain Jack's, a 45'--30 passenger 
aluminum tour boat,) but none that would profit from $10 cruises around 
Port Ludlow, or taking small groups to and from Port Townsend. Most of 
the available charter services are run as hobbies, and there are none 
listed in our local phone book that operate locally. (That's why I 
started doing it!)''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``There should be no impact at 
all regarding builders from this waiver. Nobody builds launches like 
this anymore. There are still wooden boat builders, but the market for 
small launches of this sort is negligible. As for the shipyards * * * 
Gingersnap will give the local yards plenty of work due to her age. 
(It's the nature of wooden boats * * * they like to be worked on.)''

    Dated: December 12, 2000.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-32012 Filed 12-14-00; 8:45 am]
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