[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 197 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51994-51995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25595]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-10780]


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 Sovereign of 
Malahide.

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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

[[Page 51995]]

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 November 13, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2001-10780. 
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 
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: Sovereign of Malahide. Owner: Timothy B White.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Length 64.0 ft. LOA; Breadth 18.7 ft.; Depth 7.0 ft.; 
Actual Weight 80.0 Tons.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Six (6) 
pack Seasonal Passenger charter in South East Alaska.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1973. Place of construction: Dublin, Ireland.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``A 
lengthy investigation has been performed on this topic matter and my 
conclusion, along with other operators in that market, is that there is 
a need and demand for this type of vessel of which there are few to 
fill the need and demand of high quality vessels of this length and 
appeal. Several of the leading Operators in that market have approached 
me with interest and the offer to participate and aid in the booking of 
such charter. This vessel will not adversely impact other existing 
operators.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``I purchased this vessel in 
1999. I purchased it because it was a wooden ship and like none other I 
had ever seen. It was in a U.S. ship yard dry dock for two years 
undergoing complete and extensive refurbishment and improvement. This 
renewing process was in excess of one million dollars. This vessel was 
rebuilt or renewed to beyond conventional production standards. All 
documentation is available upon request to show that ``American'' labor 
and supplies were utilized in the renewing of this vessel. In its 
current condition experts have commented that it is the finest wooden 
ship in its class in the U.S.''

    Dated: October 5, 2001.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-25595 Filed 10-10-01; 8:45 am]
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