[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22485-22486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11032]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12205]


Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

[[Page 22486]]


ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative 
waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel HOVER-ONE.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-12205. 
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: HOVER-ONE. Owner: AEGIS, Inc.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``9 Net Tons * * * Dimensions: With Skirts inflated, and in 
full flight--38' L x 18' W; With skirts deflated, an off hover--36.5 L 
x 14' W; Height on Hover--11.8'; Passenger Compartment--18' L x 6.8' W 
x 5.8' H''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Passenger 
and Cargo Transportation in Shallow Water Harbor and Riverine Areas. 
Operation restricted to within 3 miles of shoreline. Area of Operation 
will be in Tampa Bay, FL.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: January 1999. Place of construction: Kenora, 
Canada.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``As 
there are no other operators of commercial hovercraft of this tonnage 
in the U.S., there is no negative impact on local charter boat 
operators. Additionally, this hovercraft will be used primarily as a 
water taxi, of which Tampa Bay is in expressed (by both Tampa and Saint 
Petersburg) need.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``This hovercraft will have no 
negative impact on U.S. domestic shipyards, in that none are currently, 
nor have future plans to be, engaged in the construction of Skirted Air 
Cushion vehicles. Hovercraft are more like aircraft than boats, and do 
not employ water-planing hulls. They fly on a cushion of air, over both 
land and water, across deserts, ice, etc.''

    Dated: April 30, 2002.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-11032 Filed 5-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P