[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 250 (Monday, December 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 79687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32828]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)/Joint Planning 
Advisory Group (JPAG)

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Synopsis of December 9-11, 2002 meeting with VISA participants.

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    The VISA program requires that a notice of the time, place, and 
nature of each JPAG meeting be published in the Federal Register. The 
program also requires that a list of VISA participants be periodically 
published in the Federal Register. The full text of the VISA program, 
including these requirements, is published in 66 FR 10938-10947, dated 
February 20, 2001.
    On December 9-11, 2002, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the 
U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) co-hosted a meeting of the 
VISA JPAG at USTRANSCOM, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
    In order to exercise procedures for an operational JPAG meeting, 
attendance was by invitation only, and attendees were requested to 
provide government-issued security clearances prior to attending the 
meeting.
    Of the 52 U.S.-flag carrier corporate participants enrolled in the 
VISA program at the time of the meeting, 22 companies participated in 
the meeting. In addition, representatives from the Maritime 
Administration (MARAD), the Department of Defense, and maritime labor 
attended the meeting.
    LtGen Gary Hughey, the USTRANSCOM Deputy Commander, opened the 
meeting with a welcome to all attendees. He was followed by James E. 
Caponiti, Associate Administrator for National Security, Maritime 
Administration, and Mr. Daniel F. McMillin, Deputy Director, Plans and 
Policy Directorate (TCJ5), USTRANSCOM, who provided participants with 
an overview of expected outcomes. The JPAG meeting included briefings 
on: (1) VISA activation and deactivation processes; (2) the DOD 
contingency contracting process; (3) force protection issues; (4) 
merchant mariner issues; and (5) ammunition shipments.
    In addition to the briefings, there were two JPAG exercises. The 
first exercise focused on the sealift contracting process. The second 
was a mariner exercise to address how to maximize mariner availability 
in the event of a contingency.
    As of September 30, 2002, the following commercial U.S.-flag vessel 
operators were enrolled in the VISA program with MARAD: America Cargo 
Transport, Inc.; American Automar, Inc.; American International Car 
Carrier, Inc.; American President Lines, Ltd.; American Roll-On Roll-
Off Carrier, LLC; American Ship Management, L.L.C.; Bay Towing 
Corporation; Beyel Brothers Inc.; Central Gulf Lines, Inc.; Coastal 
Transportation, Inc.; Columbia Coastal Transport, LLC; Crowley Liner 
Services, Inc.; Crowley Marine Services, Inc.; CSX Lines, LLC; Delta 
Towing; E-Ships, Inc.; Farrell Lines Incorporated; First American Bulk 
Carrier Corp.; First Ocean Bulk Carrier-I, LLC; First Ocean Bulk 
Carrier-II, LLC; First Ocean Bulk Carrier-III, LLC; Foss Maritime 
Company; Liberty Shipping Group Limited Partnership; Lockwood Brothers, 
Inc.; Lykes Lines Limited, LLC; Lynden Incorporated; Maersk Line, 
Limited; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; Maybank Navigation Company, 
LLC; McAllister Towing and Transportation Co., Inc.; Moby Marine 
Corporation; Odyssea Shipping Line LLC; OSG Car Carriers, Inc.; Patriot 
Shipping, L.L.C.; RR & VO L.L.C.; Resolve Towing & Salvage, Inc.; 
Samson Tug & Barge Company, Inc.; Sea Star Line, LLC; SeaTac Marine 
Services, LLC; Sealift Inc.; Signet Maritime Corporation; STEA 
Corporation; Superior Marine Services, Inc.; TECO Ocean Shipping; Totem 
Ocean Trailer Express, Inc.; Trailer Bridge, Inc.; TransAtlantic Lines 
LLC; Troika International, Ltd.; U.S. Ship Management, Inc.; Van 
Ommeren Shipping (USA) LLC; Waterman Steamship Corporation; and Weeks 
Marine, Inc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Taylor E. Jones II, Director, 
Office of Sealift Support, (202) 366-2323.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
    Dated: December 23, 2002.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-32828 Filed 12-27-02; 8:45 am]
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