[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47600-47601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18301]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12832]


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 AMISTAD.

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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 August 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-12832. 
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

[[Page 47601]]

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: AMISTAD. Owner: Seaway Inc.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``34 ft. length, 10.2 ft. Breadth, 7.0 Ft. Depth, 12 Gross, 
11 Net Tons. The vessel displaces 19,000 lbs.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``I intend to 
use the vessel for carrying six or fewer passengers for hire in the 
Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1967. Place of construction: Yokosuka, Japan.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``This waiver will have no negative impact on other commercial 
passenger vessel operators. While there are a number of wooden sailing 
vessels offering cruises operating out of the northern Chesapeake Bay, 
I believe they are larger passenger vessels, carrying more than 12 
passengers.
    I hope the waiver will have positive impact on the larger industry 
in the area. By expanding the availability of sailing trips to smaller 
groups, it should help increase the local market for sailing cruises. 
In addition, I have listed the vessel with the State of Maryland's 
Department of National Resources as an ``Historical Watercraft''. As 
the vessel was designed by a Maryland Naval Architect, I wish to focus 
my passengers on the local tradition of wooden sailing vessels.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``This waiver should have a 
positive impact on U.S. Shipyards, as repairs and renovations to this 
vessel will be made in the U.S. For example, I recently hired a local 
builder of wooden boats to do some repair and maintenance work on the 
vessel's hull. In addition, although the vessel was built in Japan, 
it's designer is a local Naval Architect.''

    Dated: July 15, 2002.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-18301 Filed 7-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P