[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 218 (Thursday, November 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67470-67471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28827]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket MARAD-2000-8246]


U.S. Ship Management, Inc.; Notice of Application To Replace the 
Container Vessel ``Newark Bay'' in Maritime Security Program Operating 
Agreement MA/MSP-31

    By letter dated October 27, 2000, U.S. Ship Management, Inc. 
(USSMI) has advised that the container vessel Newark Bay has been sold 
to Maersk Line, Limited on October 23, 2000, and will be utilized by 
that company as an ammunition carrier under long-term charter with the 
Military Sealift Command. As a result of this sale, that vessel is no 
longer eligible to receive benefit payments under Maritime Security 
Program (MSP) Operating Agreement MA/MSP-31.
    Pursuant to the terms of MSP Operating Agreement MA/MSP-31, failure 
to operate the vessel named therein for more than 180 days in any 
fiscal year may constitute a default. Accordingly, if USSMI fails to 
resume operations under MA/MSP-31 by April 24, 2001, USMMI can, at the 
discretion of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) (we, our, or us), be 
declared in default of the terms of MSP Operating Agreement MA/MSP-31. 
USSMI has requested our approval to replace the Newark Bay with the 
container vessel Sealand Pride in order to remedy that potential 
default, and continue receiving benefits under the contract.
    The Newark Bay is a container vessel of approximately 4,600 TEU 
capacity built in 1985. The Sealand Pride is a former Sea-Land Service 
Atlantic Class container vessel also built in 1985, and converted to an 
SL-31 Class vessel of approximately 3,700 TEU capacity in 1994. The 
vessel was extensively modernized during its conversion.
    Due to the policy considerations involved in USSMI's request, we 
have decided to exercise our discretionary options and seek comments 
concerning this proposed substitution of vessels from interested 
parties. A copy of USSMI's request will be available for inspection at 
the Department of Transportation (DOT) Dockets Facility and on the DOT 
Dockets website (address information follows).
    Any person, firm or corporation having an interest in this 
proposal, and desiring to submit comments concerning this matter, may 
file comments as follows. You should mention the docket number that 
appears at the top of this notice. Written comments should be submitted 
to the

[[Page 67471]]

Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Nassif Building, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 
20590.
    Comments may also be submitted by electronic means via the internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov/submit/. You may call Docket Management at (202) 
366-9324. You may visit the Docket Room to inspect and copy comments at 
the address above between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. An electronic version of this document is 
available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov. Comments must be 
received by close of business November 24, 2000.
    This notice is published as a matter of discretion, and the fact of 
its publication should in no way be considered a favorable or 
unfavorable decision on the application, as filed, or as may be 
amended. We will consider all comments submitted in a timely fashion, 
and will take such action thereto as may be deemed appropriate.

    Dated: November 6, 2000.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-28827 Filed 11-8-00; 8:45 am]
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