[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6012-6013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2082]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 1-2009]


Foreign-Trade Zone 79--Tampa, FL Request for Manufacturing 
Authority Tampa Bay Shipbuilding and Repair Company (Shipbuilding)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the City of Tampa, grantee of FTZ 79, pursuant to 
Section 400.28(a)(2) of the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 400), 
requesting authority on behalf of Tampa Bay Shipbuilding and Repair 
Company (TBSRC) to construct and repair oceangoing vessels under FTZ 
procedures within FTZ 79. It was formally filed on January 23, 2009.
    On May 29, 2008, temporary/interim manufacturing authority was 
approved for the TBSRC facility (Docket T-1-2008, Notice of Approval--
73 FR 31813, 6-4-2008). The applicant has also requested permanent 
authority on behalf of TBSRC, which is the subject of this notice.
    The TBSRC shipyard (852 employees, capacity: 1 vessel/year) is 
located at 1130 McCloskey Boulevard within the Hooker's Point Terminal 
Complex (Site 5). Under FTZ procedures, TBSRC would construct and 
repair double-hulled liquid barges and articulating tug barges, cruise 
ships, ferries, fishing boats, tug boats, dredgers, offshore production 
platforms, and floating docks for domestic and international customers. 
Foreign components that would be used at the shipyard (up to 5% of 
total purchases, by value) include: Diesel engines and parts, 
turbochargers, stern tubes, anchor chain, aluminum beams, flexible 
tubing, pumps, heat exchange/cooling units, centrifuges, filters, fire 
suppression equipment, rudders, bow thrusters, valves, reduction gears, 
transmission shaft grounding systems and seals, generators and parts, 
transformers, propellers, speed drive and similar controllers, overfill 
alarms, automated/steering systems, safety netting (will be admitted in 
domestic (duty-paid) status), liquid flow measurement instruments, 
doors, electrical equipment, and deck equipment (duty rates: free--
14.1%).
    FTZ procedures would exempt TBSRC from customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in export activity. On its domestic sales, the 
company could be able to choose the duty rate that applies to finished 
oceangoing vessels (duty free) for the foreign-origin components noted 
above. Duties could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign status 
production equipment admitted by TBSRC to the zone. The manufacturing 
and repair activity conducted under FTZ procedures would be subject to 
the ``standard shipyard restriction'' applicable to foreign-origin 
steel mill products (e.g., angles, pipe, plate), which requires that 
all applicable customs duties be paid on such items. The application 
indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the 
facility's international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Pierre Duy of the FTZ 
Staff is designated examiner to investigate the application and report 
to the Board. Public comment is invited from interested parties. 
Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's 
Executive Secretary at the following address: Office of the Executive 
Secretary, Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230-0002. The closing period for receipt 
of comments is April 6, 2009. Rebuttal comments in response to material 
submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the 
subsequent 15-day period to April 20, 2009.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at 
the address listed above and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via http://www.trade.gov/ftz. For 
further information, contact Pierre Duy at:

[[Page 6013]]

[email protected], or (202) 482-1378.

    Dated: 1/23/09.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-2082 Filed 2-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P