Rules and Regulations. Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel CATNAP

Agency: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation
Action: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel CATNAP
Citation: FR Doc. 02-19378 · Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12957

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 Public 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 September 3, 2002.

Supplementary Information

Title V of Public Law 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 § 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: CATNAP. Owner: Electronic Commerce Systems Inc. (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the applicant: “Gross ton: 22, Net ton: 18, Length 36.4, Beam: 18.2.” (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: “Captained charters on a sailing Catamaran for trips anywhere from Maine through Florida Keys, Also training couples with sailing navigation, safety and charters skills. Daytime and evening excursions from calling ports from Maine through Florida.” (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. Date of construction: 1998. Place of construction: Whitby Ontario, Comoro Islands, Canada. (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: “My closest neighbor commercial passenger vessels, Allison Rose, and the Sterling, in Port Washington, NY, my current area, take up to 200 guests for large events, such as Weddings, Corporate Parties etc. They do not train couples in sailing and chartering skills, and they do not take passengers for weekly vacations. They are almost no catamarans north of the Chesapeake Bay.” (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. shipyards. According to the applicant: “Although not built in the USA, all repairs, replacement equipment and, new add-ons, on CATNAP are made strictly in the USA. Also I purchased this boat used in 2000, in the USA, and there are just a handful of US catamaran builders, and reasonable used models are impossible to find. By introducing more couples to catamaran chartering, I will fuel a larger market for US catamaran builders.” Dated: July 26, 2002. By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Joel C. Richard, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 02-19378 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]