[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 117 (Friday, June 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37826-37827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15243]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2000-7509]


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 STRIKER.

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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. Law 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 July 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7509. 
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., S.W., Washington, D.C. 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, S.W., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-0760.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title V of P.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 Sec. 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: STRIKER. Owner: Leonard D. Pridgen.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: According to the 
Applicant ``the size and capacity has been determined to be 33 gross 
tons, 26 net tons, length 43.8' breadth 15.1'.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade: According to the applicant: ``I request 
this waiver in order to take passengers for hire, fishing and site 
seeing, in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The geographic region would be 
the area off the coast of Alabama into the Gulf up to 100 miles.''
    (4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding: 
Date of construction: 1971, place of construction: Omastrand, 
Hardanger, Norway.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators: According to the applicant: 
``There would be no negative impact on current commercial passenger 
vessel operators. The seven vessels currently engaged in charter

[[Page 37827]]

fishing at my home port of Dauphin Island AL have more available 
clients then they can service.''
    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards: According to the applicant: ``There would be no negative 
impact on U.S. shipyards. Approval of the waiver would result in a 
favorable impact through additional repair and maintenance 
requirements.''

    Dated: June 12, 2000.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-15243 Filed 6-15-00; 8:45 am]
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