[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42099-42100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15623]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12514]


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 GATO GO.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 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 Public Law 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 July 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-12514]. 
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 Public Law 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: GATO GO. Owner: San Diego Multihull Charters, LLC.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Length 44.5 ft., Beam 25.0 ft., Draft 4.0 ft., Height off 
water 60.0 ft., Tonnage: 8 tons net'
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant:
    General Chartering, Team Building and Business Meetings * * * Coast 
of California from Point Conception south to the Mexican border.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1992. Place of construction: France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``As 
a small recreational sailing vessel with room for a limited number of 
passengers, Gato Go will fill a specialty market in San Diego Bay and 
Southern California waters. This market will include limited day 
charters for 12 passengers or less, coastal cruising, corporate events, 
including team building, retreats, and other activities. There are 
several existing companies with sailing chargers aimed at larger 
groups, as well as large commercial companies taking groups of 50 or 
more * * * The present operators of commercial vessels are going well 
and the future looks good for market growth.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``As a commercial vessel verses 
a recreational vessel, Gato Go will have many more

[[Page 42100]]

days at sea and will therefore incur more usage of the local shipyards 
of San Diego to keep her in running order.''

    Dated: June 17, 2002.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-15623 Filed 6-19-02; 8:45 am]
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