[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 54014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21159]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2002-13148]


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 ANDIAMO.

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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 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2002-13148. 
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: ANDIAMO. Owner: Andiamo, LLC.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``The vessel is 44 feet in length, 23 feet in breadth, and 
is designed to carry 8 persons in four cabins. The gross and net 
tonnages are 16 and 14 tons, respectively.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The 
intended use of the vessel is to engage in crewed chartered operations 
for hire for no more than 12 passengers on the east coast of the United 
States from Maine to Florida, including the inland waters of the 
Chesapeake Bay.'' ``Also * * * Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands''
    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1995. Place of construction: France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``This waiver will have negligible impact on other commercial passenger 
vessel operators. The crewed charter yacht business is concentrated in 
the U.S. and British Virgin Islands where over 300 such yachts are 
engaged in the charter business primarily during the winter and spring 
months, November to May. Few of these boats return to the continental 
United States during the summer months to offer their services. As a 
result, the demand for charter boats in the United States exceeds the 
available supply * * *''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``This waiver will have a 
positive impact on U.S. shipyards. Any increase in the number of crewed 
charter boats operating in U.S. waters will necessarily result in more 
repair and refitting work for U.S. shipyards. Charter boats require 
substantial repairs and maintenance each year because of the harsh 
marine environment in which they work. * * * any increase in the 
charter business in U.S. continental waters will increase the need for 
work performed by U.S. shipyards.''

    Dated: August 15, 2002.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-21159 Filed 8-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-M