[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51655-51656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24165]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Vessel Self-Designations

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On September 4, 2009, the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), the United States Department of Transportation's 
Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the United States Agency for 
International Development (USAID) entered into a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) regarding the proper implementation of the Cargo 
Preference Act (CPA). That MOU, inter alia, establishes procedures and 
standards by which owners and operators of oceangoing cargo ships may 
seek to designate each of their vessels as either a dry bulk carrier or 
a dry cargo liner, according to specified service-based criteria. This 
Notice both announces that MARAD has received such self-designation 
applications for particular vessels from their owners and operators, 
and invites comments thereon from interested parties. MARAD will 
thereafter consider all the information submitted in support of a 
requested self-designation and other evidence in the record in reaching 
its own decision on the appropriate vessel classification.

DATES: Comments are due on October 19, 2009.

Background

    The CPA requires that federal agencies take ``necessary and 
practicable'' steps to ensure that privately-owned U.S.-flag vessels 
transport at least 50 percent of the gross tonnage of cargo sponsored 
under Federal programs ``(computed separately for dry bulk carriers, 
dry cargo liners, and tankers) * * * to the extent such vessels are 
available at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the 
United States, in a manner that will ensure a fair and reasonable 
participation of commercial vessels of the United States in those 
cargoes by geographic areas.'' 46 U.S.C. 55305(b). An additional 25 
percent of gross tonnage of certain food assistance programs is to be 
transported in accordance with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 55314.
    The MOU referenced above, as well as an accompanying explanatory 
notice, were published by MARAD in the Federal Register on September 
15, 2009. The MOU adopts standards and procedures to be used to 
classify the vessels transporting preference cargo. This Notice marks 
the first use of those standards and procedures. Owners and operators 
of the vessels listed below have submitted applications to self-
designate their ships as either dry bulk vessels or as dry cargo 
liners. Each vessel has been assigned a separate docket containing the 
materials submitted. Interested persons are invited to submit comments 
regarding these vessels to the appropriate docket no later than 5 p.m. 
EDT on October 19, 2009. Commentators are advised to address their 
comments to the service-based criteria listed in the September 15 
Federal Register notice that will determine the ultimate classification 
of each vessel.

                     Applications to Self-Designate
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           Docket                Owner/Operator            Vessel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARAD-2009-0093.............  U.S. United Ocean     M/VSheila McDevitt.
                               Serv..
MARAD-2009-0097.............  U.S. United Ocean     M/VMary Ann Hudson.
                               Serv..
MARAD-2009-0094.............  Liberty Maritime      M/VLiberty Eagle.
                               Corp.
MARAD-2009-0095.............  Liberty Maritime      M/VLiberty Glory.
                               Corp.
MARAD-2009-0096.............  Liberty Maritime      M/VLiberty Grace.
                               Corp.
MARAD-2009-0098.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Ireland.
MARAD-2009-0099.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL New York.
MARAD-2009-0100.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Arabia.
MARAD-2009-0101.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Virginia.
MARAD-2009-0102.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Egypt.
MARAD-2009-0103.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Jade.
MARAD-2009-0104.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Japan.
MARAD-2009-0105.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Pearl.
MARAD-2009-0106.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Cyprine.

[[Page 51656]]

 
MARAD-2009-0107.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Agate.
MARAD-2009-0108.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Agaman.
MARAD-2009-0109.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Amazonite.
MARAD-2009-0110.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Alexandrite.
MARAD-2009-0111.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Germany.
MARAD-2009-0112.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Hong Kong.
MARAD-2009-0113.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Vietnam.
MARAD-2009-0114.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Malaysia.
MARAD-2009-0115.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Denmark.
MARAD-2009-0116.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Sardonyx.
MARAD-2009-0117.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Canada.
MARAD-2009-0118.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Holland.
MARAD-2009-0119.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Belgium.
MARAD-2009-0120.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Spain.
MARAD-2009-0121.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Garnet.
MARAD-2009-0122.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Sweden.
MARAD-2009-0123.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL India.
MARAD-2009-0124.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Australia.
MARAD-2009-0125.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Amman.
MARAD-2009-0126.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Italy.
MARAD-2009-0127.............  APL Maritime Limited  APL Atlanta.
MARAD-2009-0128.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  FF Dubai Express.
MARAD-2009-0129.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  FF Lahore Express.
MARAD-2009-0130.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  FF New Delhi
                                                     Express.
MARAD-2009-0131.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  US Charleston
                                                     Express.
MARAD-2009-0132.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  US Philadelphia
                                                     Express.
MARAD-2009-0133.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.   US St. Louis
                                                     Express.
MARAD-2009-0134.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  US Washington
                                                     Express.
MARAD-2009-0135.............  Hapag Lloyd USA LLC.  US Yorktown Express.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The self-designations sought by vessel owners and operators will 
remain effective unless MARAD reaches a different determination. MARAD 
will issue such determinations no later than 15 calendar days from the 
close of the comment period, that is, no later than November 3, 2009. 
Vessel owners and operators who object to MARAD's designation may 
appeal to the MARAD Administrator within 10 calendar days, or no later 
than 5 p.m. EDT on November 13, 2009. MARAD will issue its final 
determination in such cases within 30 calendar days, or no later than 
December 14, 2009, after consultation with USAID, USDA, and the U.S. 
Department of State.
    Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, vessels for which no applications 
for self-designation are submitted will retain the classification found 
on the existing vessel list maintained by MARAD unless and until MARAD 
makes a contrary designation. The MARAD list may be found at: http://marad.dot.gov/documents/MAR730_Master VesselList forCargo 
Preference.pdf.

ADDRESSES: All comments should prominently refer to the docket assigned 
to the vessel to which they pertain. Interested persons are strongly 
encouraged to submit their comments electronically via the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket number provided above that 
pertains to the relevant vessel and follow instructions for submitting 
comments. Comments may also be submitted via Fax or by hand or express 
delivery. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Hand or express delivery: Docket Clerk, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean E. McKeever, Associate 
Administrator for Business and Workforce Development, Maritime 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; phone: 
(202) 366-5737; fax: (202) 366-6988; or e-mail: [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individuals during business hours. The FIRS is 
available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a 
message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a 
reply during normal business hours.

    By Order of the Acting Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: October 2, 2009.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-24165 Filed 10-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P