[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14247-14248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5898]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-9048]


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 CRYSTAL.

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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.

[[Page 14248]]

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 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2001-9048. 
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: Kathleen Dunn, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-2307.

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 
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: CRYSTAL. Owner: CRYSTAL YACHT CHARTERS, INC., a California 
corporation.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``The vessel measurements are: length: 82', breadth: 22', 
depth: 11'. The tonnages are 163 gross and 59 net as measured under the 
Convention Measurement System pursuant to 46 CFR 69 and 46 U.S.C. 
Chapter 143.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant:

    This vessel will operate for short periods of time with captain, 
crew, and 12 or less passengers on harbor cruises and corporate 
executive sightseeing tours within Newport Harbor, and the Pacific 
Ocean between Newport Beach and San Diego and out to Catalina 
Island. The geographic limits will also include the Pacific Ocean 
between Pt. Conception and San Diego and out to Catalina Island.

    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1994. Place of construction: Kha Shing 
Enterprises Co., Ltd., Taiwan.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:

    The impact will be negligible as we will address the charter 
needs of smaller groups than most of the vessels in our area. Most 
of the commercial passenger vessels have capacities of 50 to 500 
passengers.

    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant:

    There is no negative impact on our U.S. shipyards and we 
anticipate that all of the repair work to this vessel will be done 
in U.S. shipyards. A majority of the components, including engines, 
generators, navigation equipment, propellers, running gear, etc., 
are all U.S. built.

    Dated: March 2, 2001.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-5898 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
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