[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 63258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD 2010-0086, 2010-0087, 2010-0088]


Vessel Re-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). The MOU was published in the Federal Register in 
74 FR 47308 (Sept. 15, 2009). The MOU is also available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/MAR730.AG-2009-02.pdf.
    That MOU 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 an application to re-designate three vessels and invites 
comments there on from interested parties. MARAD will thereafter 
consider all the information submitted regarding the requested re-
designation and other evidence in the record in reaching its decision 
on the appropriate vessel classification.

DATES: Comments are due October 25, 2010.

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 below 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: Michael Yarrington, Maritime 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; phone: 
(202) 366-1915; fax: (202) 366-5522; 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.

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 adopts standards and procedures to be used to classify the 
vessels transporting preference cargo. Owners and operators of the 
vessels listed below have submitted applications to re-designate their 
ships as 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 [Insert ten days after date of publication]. 
Commentators are advised to address their comments to the service-based 
criteria listed in the MOU.

                                          Applications to Re-Designate
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                 Docket                        Owner/operator                           Vessel
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MARAD-2010-0086........................   Liberty Maritime Corp....  M/VLIBERTY EAGLE.
MARAD-2010-0087........................   Liberty Maritime Corp....  M/VLIBERTY GLORY.
MARAD-2010-0088........................  Liberty Maritime Corp.....   M/VLIBERTY GRACE.
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    MARAD will issue such determinations no later than 15 calendar days 
from the close of the comment period. Vessel owners and operators who 
object to MARAD's designation may appeal to the MARAD Administrator 
within 10 calendar days. MARAD will issue its final determination in 
such cases within 30 calendar days after consultation with USAID, USDA, 
and the U.S. Department of State.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: October 7, 2010.
Christine Gurland,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-25840 Filed 10-13-10; 8:45 am]
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