[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 24536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10396]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7272]


Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative 
waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel Lady in Red.

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SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law 105-383, the Secretary of 
Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 
is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.- build requirement of the 
coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver 
has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a description of the 
proposed service, is listed below. Interested parties may comment on 
the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses 
in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines that in 
accordance with Pub.L. 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 
388 (65 FR 6905; February 11, 2000) that the issuance of the waiver 
will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a 
business that uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will not be granted.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7272. 
Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket 
Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400 
7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. You may also send comments 
electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All 
comments 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://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hokana, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR 832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-0760.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of Pub. L. 105-383 provides 
authority to the Secretary of Transportation to administratively waive 
the U.S.-build requirements of the Jones Act, and other statutes, for 
small commercial passenger vessels (less than 12 passengers). This 
authority has been delegated to the Maritime Administration per 49 CFR 
1.66, Delegations to the Maritime Administrator, as amended. By this 
notice, MARAD is publishing information on a vessel for which a request 
for a U.S.-build waiver has been received, and for which MARAD requests 
comments from interested parties. Comments should refer to the docket 
number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to 
properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the 
commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver 
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

Vessel Proposed for Waiver of the U.S.-Build Requirement

    (1) Name of vessel and owner for which waiver is requested: Name of 
vessel: LADY IN RED Owner: Robert & Carol Blodgett.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: According to the 
Applicant ``43' LOA, 23.6' Beam, 3.5' Draft." Tonnage:" 25.23 Gross 
Tons (46 U.S.C. 14502)''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``Custom, 3-5 
day sailing & scuba diving adventures. Gulf and Atlantic coast waters 
of Florida.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1992, place of construction: St. Francis Marine--
Durbin, South Africa.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators: According to the applicant: 
``The impact on existing operators offering the same type of services 
will be negligible. The service area will be located in the Gulf and 
Atlantic, coastal waters of Florida. The customized offering will 
center on the sailing and diving experience aboard a luxury, sailing 
catamaran. The package will also include ecological discovery and 
education in the NOAA controlled waters of the Florida Keys, and be 
limited to a maximum of 8 passengers. The business operation will be 
located at Marathon, Florida. But, will offer points of departure out 
of any of the major ports in the state of Florida. The points of 
departure will be based on customer preference. Currently, Blackbeard 
Cruses has a similar offering, but it is restricted to the Bahamas and 
does not offer the Florida Keys as an alternative. They are also 
limited to monohull sailboats sailing out of Miami, FL.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``There will be a positive 
impact on U.S. shipyards due to the, added, annual income from the 
maintenance on our fleet.''

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: April 21, 2000.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-10396 Filed 4-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P