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 SPICE.

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 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 August 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should refer to docket number MARAD-2000-7620. 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:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-832 Room 7201, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-4357.

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 (less 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: SPICE. Owner: Tom and Terri Laird

(2) Size, capacity and tonnage of vessel: According to the Applicant: Length = 41.0 feet, Breadth = 10.2 feet, Depth = 6.7 feet, Capacity = 6 passengers, Gross tonnage = 14, Net Tonnage = 12.

(3) Intended use for vessel, including geographic region of intended operation and trade: According to the applicant: The vessel will be chartered for coastwise cruising from Eastport Maine to Montauk, New York including Long Island Sound.

(4) Date and place of construction and (if applicable) rebuilding: Date of construction: 1954. Place of construction: Abeking & Rasmussen, Lemwerder Germany.

(5) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on other commercial passenger vessel operators: According to the applicant: There are numerous small private charters operating in coastwise waters throughout New England. In recent years the healthy economy and increased tourism have created a market for additional vessels. Vintage wooden vessels such as SPICE are rare and particularly sought after.

(6) A statement on the impact this waiver will have on U.S. shipyards: According to the applicant: SPICE was fitted out in the US and has been maintained by US boatyards since she was delivered in 1954. A significantly greater amount of money has been spent in the US than in Germany on the original purchase, for example, the current annual maintenance costs are equal to two times the initial purchase price. She will continue to be maintained by US yards.