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

Agency: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation
Action: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel LOLA
Citation: FR Doc. 02-19381 · Docket Number: MARAD-2002-12953

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: LOLA. Owner: Lola Marine Ltd. (2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel. According to the applicant: “LOA: 87, LOD: 78, W: 18.4, Tonnage: Gross-74, Net-68, Passenger Capacity-6/7, Crew-3/4.” (3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of intended operation and trade. According to the applicant: “This vessel is for the personal use of my family and friends, and limited charter, and has typically cruised the entire East coast of the U.S., From Maine to the Gulf of Mexico.” (4) Date and Place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding. Date of construction: 1984, rebuild: 1997, 1999. Place of construction: Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Portsmouth, RI. (5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other commercial passenger vessel operators. According to the applicant: “I anticipate negligible impact on other commercial passenger operations as LOLA is already engaged in limited charter on a demise basis, and generally caters to a small client base, almost all of who are repeat customers.” (6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. shipyards. According to the applicant: “As was indicated in the construction section, LOLA has already had extensive initial construction and rebuild work completed at U.S. shipyards. I have no doubt that the expenditures at U.S. shipyards have greatly exceeded the cost of the original hull construction in Taiwan. In the event that the granting of this waiver did increase the charter utilization, it could only increase the value of work to be performed at U.S. shipyards due to increased wear and tear.” Dated: July 26,2002. By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Joel C. Richard, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 02-19381 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]