[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48507-48508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23507]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-10634]


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 Stevie Sunshine.

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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 October 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2001-10634. 
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

[[Page 48508]]

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: Stevie Sunshine. Owner: Costanza Contracting of Delaware, Inc.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Length Overall: 60'1"; Displacement: Tonnage--Gross: 49 
Tons; Net: 33 Tons''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The M/V 
Stevie Sunshine is intended for hourly, daily, and overnight private 
charter, as well as, extended charter use in both private party charter 
and the sportfishing tournament circuit to include all U.S. coastline 
waters up to and including 100 miles offshore and all inland waters. 
This vessel will be in full compliance with all Federal Regulations (to 
include the required number of trained and licensed captains and 
mates).''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1987. Place of construction: Monnickendam, 
Netherlands.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``It 
is our opinion that this waiver will have no appreciable impact on any 
charter operator, regardless of their base of operation, because we do 
not plan to be in any existing market long enough to affect that 
market. Our intention is to cater to the sportfishing tournament 
circuit, with hourly, daily and/or overnight charters. Our Charter 
operation would serve to compliment the local charter operator, as well 
as, the local shipyards due to our purchase of bait, tackle, and 
supplies in general, thus, stimulating the local economy for the period 
of time that we were in a port of call.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``This waiver will have no 
negative, but in fact, a positive economic impact on U.S. shipyards. 
Costanza Contracting of DE, Inc., has already spent approximately, 
$250,000.00 since purchase this year (2/19/01), on improving this 
vessel. All of this work has been undertaken at U.S. shipyards and 
marinas. The owner intends to continue to improve this vessel and 
anticipates that all future improvements, repairs, and upgrades will 
continue to be undertaken in U.S. shipyards and marinas.''

    Dated: September 13, 2001.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-23507 Filed 9-19-01; 8:45 am]
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