|CHAPTER�3�-�TRANSPORTATION,�ACCOMPANIED�BAGGAGE,��AND�LOCAL�TRAVEL
    PART�B:��TRAVEL�BY�COMMON�CARRIER
        U3130��COMMERCIAL�VESSEL�TRANSPORTATION
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| | U3130� COMMERCIAL VESSEL TRANSPORTATION | 
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| | A.General.� | 
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| | Commercial vessel transportation may be directed for transoceanic travel only for operational reasons and may be authorized/approved only as prescribed in subpar. B.� A member and/or dependents may have travel by car ferry authorized/approved as specified in par. U5116-C3.� Without authorization/approval, reimbursement is based on constructed air transportation costs. | 
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| | B.Authorization To Use Commercial Vessel. | 
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| | Commercial vessels use may be authorized/approved by the order-issuing official when: | 
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| | 1.the travel can be completed only by vessel;� | 
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| | 2.the travel can be performed more economically or efficiently by vessel; or� | 
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| | 3.competent medical authority certifies that the traveler is medically unable to use air transportation and vessel transportation is the only reasonable alternative. | 
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| | C.Accommodations on Vessels.� | 
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| | Members who travel by ship shall use lowest class ship accommodations.� Travel by ocean vessel shall be authorized/approved at as high a level as practicable. First-class vessel accommodations may be used only as permitted in subpar. D. | 
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| | D.Authorization/Approval for First-Class Vessel Accommodations Use | 
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| | 1.Authorization/Approval.� | 
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| | A transportation officer may authorize/approve first-class accommodations use under the circumstances specified in subpar. E except for travel using Coast Guard funds.� The Commandant/Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard must authorize/approve first-class accommodations use. | 
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| | 2.Requirements.� | 
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| | Authorization for first-class ship accommodations use should be made in advance of the travel unless extenuating circumstances or emergency situations make authorization impossible. In these cases, the member must request written approval from the appropriate authority as soon as possible after the travel. | 
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| | E.� First-Class Vessel Accommodations Use.� | 
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| | First-class accommodations may be authorized/approved only when: | 
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| | 1.no other accommodations are available;� | 
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| | 2.necessary to accommodate a member's/dependent's disability or other physical impairment, if the condition is substantiated in writing by competent medical authority.� First-class accommodations use also may be authorized/approved for an attendant, who is authorized under pars. U7250-D and U7251-B to accompany an attended traveler when the attended traveler is authorized first-class accommodations use and requires the attendant's service en route. | 
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| | 3.there are exceptional security requirements.� | 
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| | Examples are: | 
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| | a.a member whose use of lowest-class accommodations would entail danger to member's life or Government property;� | 
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| | b.agents of protective details accompanying individuals authorized to use first-class accommodations; and� | 
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| | c.couriers and control officers accompanying controlled pouches or packages. | 
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| | F.U.S. Registry Vessel Use | 
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| | 1.� General.� | 
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| | U.S. flag vessels shall be used except as provided in subpars. 2 and 3 (46 U.S.C. �1241 (a)), and applies to all official travel and accompanied baggage transportation without regard to the source of funds used to pay (57 Comp. Gen. 546 (1978)).� When vessel transportation is authorized/approved and a U.S. flag vessel cannot provide the transportation service required, transportation may be obtained aboard a foreign flag vessel although U.S. flag vessels may be available (B-190575, May 1, 1978). | 
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| | 2.� U.S. Flag Vessel Use Impractical.� | 
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| | When U.S. flag vessels use would seriously interfere with/prevent the performance of official business, the order-issuing official may authorize/approve foreign flag vessel use.� Documentation required by par. U3125-C4� explaining why U.S. flag vessel use is impracticable must be provided to the traveler to justify transportation reimbursement. Order endorsements are acceptable. | 
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| | 3.� U.S. Flag Vessel Unavailable.� | 
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| | When U.S. flag vessels are not available, the transportation/other appropriate officer may authorize/approve foreign flag vessel use.� Documentation required by par. U3125-C4 is used explaining why U.S. flag vessels are unavailable, and must be provided to the traveler to justify transportation reimbursement.� Order endorsements are acceptable. | 
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| | 4.Determination Required.� | 
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| | The authorizations/approvals referred to in subpars. 2 and 3 are not based on inconvenience in securing transportation on U.S. flag vessels, short delays in awaiting transportation, arranging circuitous routes for traveler convenience, or similar reasons. | 
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| | U3135� TRAIN TRANSPORTATION | 
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| | A.� Policy.� | 
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| | Except as noted in this paragraph, members who travel by train must use coach-class accommodations.� When adequate reserved coach accommodations are available, order-issuing officials shall require that those accommodations be used to the maximum extent possible.� For overnight travel, members shall use slumber coach sleeping accommodations, or the lowest class of sleeping accommodations available on a train that does not offer slumber coach accommodations. | 
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| | B.� First-Class Train Accommodations Use | 
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| | 1.Authorization/Approval.� | 
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| | Under the circumstances specified in subpar. C, the transportation officer may authorize/approve the first-class train accommodations use except for travel using Coast Guard funds.� The Commandant/Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard must authorize/approve first-class accommodations use. | 
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| | 2.� Requirements.� | 
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| | Authorization for first-class train accommodations use should be made in advance of the travel unless extenuating circumstances or emergency situations make authorization impossible. In these cases, the member must request written approval from the appropriate authority as soon as possible after the travel. | 
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| | C.� Circumstances.� | 
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| | First-class accommodations may be authorized/approved only when: | 
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| | 1.advantageous to the Government and no coach-class train accommodations are reasonably available.� For the purpose of this paragraph, reasonably available means available and scheduled to leave within 24 hours of the member's proposed departure time, or scheduled to arrive within 24 hours of the member's proposed arrival time.� In the case of a direct route that requires overnight travel, reasonably available means slumber coach sleeping accommodations are available.� Accommodations with a scheduled arrival time later than the member's required reporting time at the duty site, or with scheduled departure time earlier than the time the member is scheduled to complete duty are not reasonably available. | 
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| | 2.necessary to accommodate a member's/dependent's disability or other physical impairment, and the condition is substantiated in writing by competent medical authority. First-class accommodations use also may be authorized/approved for an attendant authorized under pars. U7250-D and U7251-B to accompany the attended traveler when the attended traveler is authorized first-class accommodations use and requires the attendant's assistance en route. | 
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| | 3.there are exceptional security requirements. Examples are: | 
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| | a.a member whose coach-class accommodations use would entail danger to the member's life or Government property,� | 
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| | b.agents of protective details accompanying individuals authorized to use first-class accommodations, and��� | 
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| | c.couriers and control officers accompanying controlled pouches or packages. | 
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| | 4.coach-class accommodations on a foreign rail carrier do not provide adequate sanitation or meet health standards. | 
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| | D.� Extra-Fare Train Service.� | 
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| | Coach-class travel by extra-fare trains may be authorized/approved when its use is advantageous to the Government or is required for security reasons.� AMTRAK Metroliner coach accommodations use is advantageous to the Government.� Metroliner Club Service is first-class accommodations.� First-class accommodations on extra-fare trains may be authorized/approved as provided in subpar. C. | 
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| | E.� Tips to Train Attendants.� | 
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| | For a member who performs TDY travel and receives reimbursement (except a mileage allowance for the entire journey), tips of up to $1 each calendar day to train attendants are reimbursable. | 
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| | U3140� UNUSED GOVERNMENT-PROCURED TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS AND TICKETS | 
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| | A.� General.� | 
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| | Members who return unused Government-procured transportation documents, complete tickets, or unused portions of tickets obtained on these documents are entitled to travel and transportation allowances under this Chapter and Chapters 4 and 5 if otherwise authorized. | 
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| | B.� Cost to the Government Involved.� | 
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| | When cost to the Government is involved, the cost for any sleeping or parlor car accommodations furnished and used, or the cost of shipping baggage on tickets without passenger shall be deducted from the amount otherwise payable to the member in subpar. A for the travel involved. | 
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| | U3145� CITY-PAIR PROGRAM | 
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