[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13654-13655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6144]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD 2010-0031]


Use of Foreign-Flag Anchor Handling Vessels in the Beaufort Sea 
or Chukchi Sea Adjacent to Alaska

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 109-347, the Secretary of 
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration, is 
authorized to make determinations permitting the use of foreign-flag 
anchor handling vessels in certain cases (and for a limited period of 
time) if no U.S.-flag vessels are found to be suitable and reasonably 
available.
    A request for such a determination regarding anchor handling 
vessels with a minimum ice class A3 has been received by the Maritime 
Administration. If the Maritime Administration determines that U.S.-
flag vessels are not suitable and

[[Page 13655]]

reasonably available for the proposed service, a determination will be 
granted allowing for the conditional use of these vessels, within a set 
time frame. Those interested in providing the names of suitable and 
available vessels for the proposed service should refer to the docket 
number, and identify the U.S.-flag vessels available.

DATES: Submit U.S.-flag anchor handling ice class A3 or above vessel 
nominations on or before April 21, 2010.

ADDRESSES: U.S.-flag vessel nominations should refer to docket number 
MARAD 2010-0031. Written nominations may be submitted by hand or by 
mail to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 
You may also send documents electronically via the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or http://smses.dot.gov/submit/. All submissions 
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://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas W. Harrelson, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-730 Room W21-316, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-5515.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The Maritime Administration has received a request from an attorney 
on behalf of a client seeking permission to charter a foreign-flag ice-
classed A3 anchor handling vessel adjacent to the coast of Alaska. The 
foreign-flag anchor handling vessel (TOR VIKING 9199622) would 
operate in the Beaufort Sea or Chukchi Sea adjacent to Alaska, under 
certain conditions, and for a limited period of time. Section 705 of 
Public Law 109-347 allows the use of foreign-flag vessels in this 
regard if the Maritime Administration determines that U.S.-flag vessels 
are not suitable or reasonably available and if the lessee has entered 
into a binding contract to obtain and employ an eligible vessel. The 
lessee has entered into a long term time charter to build and employ 
such an eligible vessel. The Maritime Administration is posting this 
notice in the Federal Register providing the public 30 days notice of 
our intention to provide a determination allowing for the use of a 
foreign-flag vessel in this regard, if suitable and available U.S.-flag 
vessels are not otherwise identified. The Maritime Administration's 
determination will be for the period through December 31, 2011.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: March 15, 2010.
Christine Gurland,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-6144 Filed 3-19-10; 8:45 am]
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