[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50749-50750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19684]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12990]


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 FINNESSE.

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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 September 4, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-12990. 
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 50750]]

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: FINNESSE. Owner: Fairwinds Sailing LLC.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``47.6 in length, US Coast Guard, 35 Gross Tons, 31 Net 
tons, Breadth: 14.5, and depth: 10.2.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The vessel 
will be used in the coastwide trade, specifically carrying passengers 
with a crew, for a fee. The vessel will have two bases of operation. 
One base will be from Woods Hole, Massachusetts and the vessel will 
cruise the waters from Eastport, Maine to Atlantic City, New Jersey. 
The second base of operation will be Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the 
cruising waters will cover the waters from Hilton Head, South Carolina 
to the Florida Keys.''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1989. Place of construction: Finland.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``Both areas of operation have large passenger vessel activity with 
lots of opportunity for employment. The operators of FINNESSE are the 
principals of the company and are not competing for employment with 
other operators.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``There is no adverse effect on 
US vessel builders. Based on the size of the boat and the passenger 
capacity of less than 6 passengers, the vessel will not economically 
impact US vessel builders. The National Marine Manufacturers 
Association has data illustrating that there are 16 million vessels in 
the United States. The subject vessel's economic impact on United 
States vessel builders will be negligible.''

    Dated: July 31, 2002.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-19684 Filed 8-2-02; 8:45 am]
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