UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 

COMPLAINANT, 

vs. 

License No. 852535 

and 

Merchant Mariner's Document 

No. 435 92 9316 

Issued to: 

WAYNE ANTHONY SA VOlE 

Respondent 

Before: Archie R. Boggs 

Administrative Law Judge 

Docket No. 00-0809 

P A No. 00002177 

DECISION AND ORDER 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 

This proceeding is brought pursuant to the authority contained in 5 USC 551-559; 46 

USC Chapter 77; 46 Code ofFederal Regulations, Parts 5 and 16; and 33 CPR Part 20. 

Wayne Anthony Savoie was served with a Complaint by a United States Coast Guard 

Investigating Officer on 1 December 2000. 

The Complaint states that "under the statutory authority of 46 USC 7702(d) and the 

regulations in 33 CPR Part 20, sub-part L, the Coast Guard is temporarily suspending and 

taking possession of your license, certificate and/or merchant mariner's document (MMD) on 

1 December 2000." The Complaint further advised Mr. Savoie that "your answer to this 

Complaint will be filed at a pre-hearing conference to be scheduled by the Administrative Law 

Judge as soon as possible." 
2 

A telephone pre-hearing conference was held on 7 December 2000 between the 

Administrative Law Judge, the Investigating Officer, and Mr. Savoie. 

The telephone conference resulted in the Respondent admitting the jurisdictional and 

factual allegations in the Complaint. However, he requested a hearing on the proposed order. 

The jurisdictional allegations were that the Respondent holds license No. 852535 and 

merchant mariner's document No. 435 92 9316. The Complaint further states that "Respondent 

perfonns a safety sensitive function when acting under the authority of that license, certificate 

or document by serving as Master aboard the vessel Offshore Monarch as required by law or 

regulation," and that there is probable cause to believe that the Respondent "has been 

convicted of an offense that would prevent the issuance or renewal ofthe license, certificate or 

document." 

On 6 December 2000 the Investigating Officer amended the Complaint with the 

following factual allegations. 

"The Coast Guard alleges that: 

1. On January 12, 1996, the Respondent, Wayne Anthony Savoie was 

charged with and was subsequently convicted of Possession of 

cocaine, by the 17th Judicial District Court, Lafourche Parish, LA 

2. On October 25, 1999, the Respondent, was charged with and was 

subsequently convicted of Attempted Possession of cocaine, by the 

16th Judicial District Court, St. Mary Parish, LA 

3. Respondent was the holder of a U.S. Coast Guard License and 

MMD. 

4. As the Master of the MN Offshore Monarch the Respondent holds 

a safety sensitive position. 

5. Respondent committed fraud on or about May 15, 2000, when 

applying for renewal of his Merchant Mariner's Document. He 

stated that he had not been convicted by any court, other that (sic) 

minor traffic violations. 

6. Respondent committed fraud on or about April28, 1998, when 

applying for renewal of his U.S. Coast Guard License. He stated 

that he had not been convicted by any court, other than minor 

traffic. 
3 

A hearing was held at Morgan City on 21 December 2000. 

Even though the Respondent admitted the allegations of the Complaint in order that the 

record would be complete the Investigating Officer introduced in evidence seven (7) exhibits. 

1.0. Exhibit No. 1 -a Coast Guard license No. 852535, which was issued to 

Wayne A. Savoie and which authorized him to serve as Master of steam or 

motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross tons; and also a merchant mariner's 

document issued to Mr. Savoie which bears his social security number and an 

expiration date of07/17/2005. 

1.0. Exhibit No. 2- a letter from LTJG Hahn addressed to Mr. Savoie, 

together with an amended Complaint and affidavit. 

I.O. Exhibit No. 3- a true copy of an information for possession of cocaine in 

a matter entitled 17th Judicial Court, Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana 

vs. Wayne A. Savoie and the minutes of the Court in that matter. 

I.O. Exhibit No.4- a copy of extracts of minutes of the 16th Judicial Court, 

Parish of St. Mary, State of Louisiana, which charged Mr. Savoie with 

attempted possession of cocaine. Mr. Savoie pled guilty and was ordered 

imprisoned for two years which was suspended and the defendant was placed 

on supervised probation for two years. 

I.O. Exhibit No.5- an application for renewal of a merchant mariner's 

document for Mr. Savoie with an expiration date of7/17/05. 

I.O. Exhibit No. 6-is an application for renewal of a Master's ocean license 

and OUTV for Great Lakes and Inland Waters. 

I.O. Exhibit No.7- a letter dated December 5, 2000 to LTJG John Hahn from 

Captain Louis Ledet of Offshore Specialty Fabricators, Inc. which shows that 

Mr. Savoie was employed by his company from Aprill5, 1997 through 

November 7, 2000. 

The evidence clearly supports the Complaint. 

Mr. Savoie testified in an effort to persuade the Administrative Law Judge that his 

license and merchant mariner's document should not be revoked. He described himself as a 

"recovering drug addict" and he claimed to be very active in Alcoholics Anonymous and 

Narcotics Anonymous. 

46 USC 7704 (b) provides as follows: 
"If it is shown at a hearing under this chapter that a holder of a license, 

certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document issued under this part, 

within 10 years before the beginning ofthe proceedings, has been convicted of 

violating a dangerous drug law of the United States or of a state, the license, 

certificate, or document shall be revoked." 

ORDER 

4 

That License No. 852535 and Merchant Mariner's Document No. 435 92 9316, and 

all other valid licenses, documents and certificates of service issued to you by the United 

States Coast Guard, or any predecessor authority, now held by you, be and the same are hereby 

Revoked. 

The procedure for Appeal is attached. 

Dated: -!-!/-February 2001 

New Orleans, Louisiana 

ARCHIE R. BOGGS 

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE