[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26271-26272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11315]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7329]


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 TROPICAL ATTITUDES.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 26272]]


DATES: Submit comments on or before June 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7329. 
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 Public Law 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 
commentor'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: TROPICAL ATTITUDES, Owner: Winkin, Inc. of Dover, DE.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: According to the 
Applicant ``TROPICAL ATTITUDES is 39' in length, with a beam of 20'7" 
and a gross tonnage of 8 tons (7 net tons) measured pursuant to 46 U.S. 
C. 14502.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: ``The 
intended use of the vessel, after the granting of a waiver, is to 
conduct live-aboard sailing catamaran charters in the Florida Keys. The 
maximum number of passengers on any such charter will be six, enabling 
the vessel to operate as an uninspected vessel with a coastwise 
endorsement. These charters will be conducted by CCJ Inc, a Florida 
Corporation, and citizen of the United States.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1989, place of construction: Les Sables 
D'Olonnes, France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: 
``Since there are presently no other such operators offering live-
aboard Catamaran sailing charters in the Florida Keys, we feel that we 
would not in any way be adversely affecting any other commercial vessel 
operators in the area. In fact, though there are many charter vessels 
for hire operating in the Florida Keys, there are few that offer any 
type of live-aboard arrangements and no other sailing catamaran based 
in the Florida Keys offers charters of this kind.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: ``Since there are very few U.S. 
shipbuilders manufacturing vessels comparable to the Privilege 39, we 
do not feel that our small operation will in any way adversely affect 
U.S. shipbuilders. We do feel, however, that the impact the operation 
will have on U.S. shipyards will be a positive one, as haul-outs and 
refits will be performed in U.S. shipyards. In addition, though we wish 
to start this operation on a small scale, we hope for future plans to 
include expansion into a larger vessel which will be U.S. built and 
certified as an Inspected Vessel as the business grows.''

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: May 2, 2000.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-11315 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P