[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22636-22637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11266]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-9586]


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 ANTARES.

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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 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 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2001-9586. 
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: ANTARES. Owner: Carl W. Roth.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Gross tonnage: 16 tons, Net tonnage: 14

[[Page 22637]]

tons, Length: 40.8 feet, Breadth: 14.1 feet, Depth: 5.6 feet ``
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Passenger 
Charters of no more than 12 passengers. Plan to travel with this Vessel 
in U.S. waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and Great Lakes 
and would like to offer ``part-time'' charter services to interested 
passengers. Minimally requesting a waiver for the ``Primary Region'' 
which encompass the waters of the vessel's Home Port. Would also like 
to have the waiver encompass ``Secondary Regions A, B, & C'' for 
flexibility in offering ``part-time'' charter services in those waters 
as well.
    a. Primary Region: Florida Atlantic and Gulf coastal and inland 
waters tributary thereto of the U.S. (From Pensacola, Florida to 
Fernandina Beach, Florida)
    b. Secondary Region A: Gulf of Mexico coastal and inland waters 
tributary thereto of the U.S. (From Brownsville, Texas to Pensacola, 
Florida)
    c. Secondary Region B: Atlantic coastal and inland waters tributary 
thereto of the U.S. (From Fernandina Beach, Florida to Eastport, Maine)
    d. Secondary Region C: Great Lakes (Lake Ontario from Cape Vincent, 
NY to Niagara Falls, NY; Lake Erie from Buffalo, NY to Toledo, Ohio; 
Lake Huron From Port Huron, Michigan to Mackinaw City, Michigan; Lake 
Michigan from Mackinaw City, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois; and Lake 
Superior from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Duluth, Minnesota) waters 
tributary thereto of the U.S.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1984. Place of construction: St. Hilaire de Riez, 
France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``I 
believe that granting this waiver will not unduly adversely affect any 
of the 3300-3500 sailboat charter companies offering potentially 
comparable services in these Regions. The ``part-time'' nature of my 
single vessel charter services and geographic distribution should 
minimize any adverse economic impacts to other operators. The following 
estimates were identified researching companies providing sailboat 
charter, boat building/repairing, and commercial shipyard services in 
the Regions of interest.
    a. Primary Region: Estimate approximately 950-1000 sailboat charter 
companies offering boats, 1500-1600 boat building/repair companies and 
8-10 companies offering commercial shipyard services in this Region.
    b. Secondary Region A: Estimate approximately 650-700 sailboat 
charter companies offering boats, 1000-1100 boat building/repair 
companies and 35-40 companies offering commercial shipyard services in 
this region.
    c. Secondary Region B: Estimate approximately 1250-1300 sailboat 
charter companies offering boats, 2200-2300 boat building/repair 
companies and 20-25 companies offering commercial shipyard services in 
this Region.
    d. Secondary Region C: Estimate approximately 450-500 sailboat 
charter companies offering boats, 1700-1800 boat building/repair 
companies and 5-10 companies offering commercial shipyard services in 
this Region.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``I believe that granting this 
waiver will not unduly adversely affect any of the 75-80 commercial 
U.S. Shipyards identified since they support much larger vessels.''

    Dated: April 30, 2001.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
 Joel C. Richard,
 Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-11266 Filed 5-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P