[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37453-37454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14973]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7494]


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 Maria Christina.

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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 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 July 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7494. 
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

[[Page 37454]]

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 
commentor's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver 
criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD'S regulations at 46 CFR 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: Maria Christina Owner: Paul S. Mackey
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: According to the 
Applicant: ``Size: 47 ft.--25 tons pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 14502.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: Six person 
dinner charters and sailing tours from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to 
Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1978, place of construction: Blue Water Yachts, 
Taiwan.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: ``I 
believe there will be no impact on any commercial passenger vessel in 
the North East region where as there is no other vessels that I know of 
offering small six person dinner charters. There are larger--150 person 
plus tour boats in the N.E. region that I know of.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant: `` I don't see where six person 
dinner charters would have any impact on any U.S. shipyards.''

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: June 8, 2000.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-14973 Filed 6-13-00; 8:45 am]
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