[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 12968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4991]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD-2001-8979]


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 HERON.

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

SUMMARY: As authorized by Pub. L. 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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2001-8979. 
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: Kathleen Dunn, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-2307.

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 (no more 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 
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: HERON. Owner: Aram S. Nersesian.
    (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the 
applicant: ``Gross Tonnage: 25 (measured by standard documentation 
standards and formulas), Net Tonnage: 22, Length: 51.5 feet, Breadth: 
15.2 feet, Depth: 6.5 feet, Hull Material: Aluminum.''
    (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of 
intended operation and trade. According to the applicant:

    I would use this vessel for day or overnight charters; I would 
find corporate sponsorship to cover costs of taking inner city kids, 
kids at risk, cancer kids and families, etc. for day/overnight 
charters; I would create a sailing club taking paying members for 
day/overnight sails; I would provide a sailing platform to bring 
scholars and journalists of similar scientific and social 
backgrounds together for `think tank' programs. Geographic region: 
entire United States Coastline, Great Lakes, all Inland Rivers and 
Waterways, and Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

    (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. 
Date of construction: 1982. Place of construction: La Rochelle, France.
    (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other 
commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant:

    A waiver for my personally owned vessel will have absolutely no 
impact on other commercial passenger vessel operators. I have no 
plans to create an ongoing charter business of any kind. My use 
would follow my own interests to bring people together who have an 
interest in sailing, to use the boat to give disadvantaged children 
and their families an opportunity to get out on the water, or to 
create a floating `think tank' for scholars, scientists and 
journalists. These uses are completely original and not commercially 
based, and would therefore not compete in any way with existing 
commercial operations.

    (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. 
shipyards. According to the applicant:

    This waiver, also, will have no impact on U.S. shipyards, other 
than to provide ongoing business for these shipyards in the way of 
maintenance and upgrades to this vessel which is already in and 
documented in United States waters.


    Dated: February 26, 2001.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-4991 Filed 2-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P