[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14251-14252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5903]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-9052]


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 SYBARIS.

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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 46 CFR Part 
388 (65 FR 6905; February

[[Page 14252]]

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-2001-9052. 
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: SYBARIS. Owner: Elliot Storm, Kendell Storm.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Size: 40'6" (loa), Cap./Tonnage: 12 Tons (gross) 11 (net) 
(46 U.S.C. 14502), Displacement: 20,878 lbs. (dry)''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Coastal 
cruising for up to 6 persons (daytime, weekend, week); (educational and 
leisure) East Coast United States (initially Maine to Virginia: later 
to the southeast and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1988. Place of construction: Portsmouth, 
Hampshire, England.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:

    It is our intent to supplement our income in order to support a 
cruising family lifestyle. We believe that the effect of our vessel 
on existing commercial or small private operators will be nil to 
nonexistent. We plan to cruise as a family with our children (ages 9 
and 11) and teach cruising or other educational values to supplement 
our income afloat. We would not be in any one location longer than a 
few weeks, so local impact would be negligible to none at all. 
Existing operations pursuing the intent we desire are few and far 
between. We believe that it is far more important to spend time 
together as a family and go while you are still young enough to be 
able to cruise. Our children are already being home schooled and are 
eager and ready to sail/cruise at a moments notice. Again, we are 
not looking to encroach upon anyone's income, just to be able to 
supplement ours in a way that will allow us to achieve our goal.''

    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``In regards to US Shipyards, We 
have owned this boat (acquired used) since 1995. It is a certified blue 
water cruiser with a Lloyds of London hull registry. We are not in the 
market for another vessel, nor do we perceive that this particular 
vessel would have any impact on US shipyards.''

    Dated: March 2, 2001.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-5903 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
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