[Federal Register: October 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 51655-51656]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07oc09-121]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
Vessel Self-Designations
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On September 4, 2009, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the United States Department of Transportation's
Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) regarding the proper implementation of the Cargo
Preference Act (CPA). That MOU, inter alia, establishes procedures and
standards by which owners and operators of oceangoing cargo ships may
seek to designate each of their vessels as either a dry bulk carrier or
a dry cargo liner, according to specified service-based criteria. This
Notice both announces that MARAD has received such self-designation
applications for particular vessels from their owners and operators,
and invites comments thereon from interested parties. MARAD will
thereafter consider all the information submitted in support of a
requested self-designation and other evidence in the record in reaching
its own decision on the appropriate vessel classification.
DATES: Comments are due on October 19, 2009.
Background
The CPA requires that federal agencies take ``necessary and
practicable'' steps to ensure that privately-owned U.S.-flag vessels
transport at least 50 percent of the gross tonnage of cargo sponsored
under Federal programs ``(computed separately for dry bulk carriers,
dry cargo liners, and tankers) * * * to the extent such vessels are
available at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the
United States, in a manner that will ensure a fair and reasonable
participation of commercial vessels of the United States in those
cargoes by geographic areas.'' 46 U.S.C. 55305(b). An additional 25
percent of gross tonnage of certain food assistance programs is to be
transported in accordance with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 55314.
The MOU referenced above, as well as an accompanying explanatory
notice, were published by MARAD in the Federal Register on September
15, 2009. The MOU adopts standards and procedures to be used to
classify the vessels transporting preference cargo. This Notice marks
the first use of those standards and procedures. Owners and operators
of the vessels listed below have submitted applications to self-
designate their ships as either dry bulk vessels or as dry cargo
liners. Each vessel has been assigned a separate docket containing the
materials submitted. Interested persons are invited to submit comments
regarding these vessels to the appropriate docket no later than 5 p.m.
EDT on October 19, 2009. Commentators are advised to address their
comments to the service-based criteria listed in the September 15
Federal Register notice that will determine the ultimate classification
of each vessel.
Applications to Self-Designate
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Docket Owner/Operator Vessel
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MARAD-2009-0093............. U.S. United Ocean M/VSheila McDevitt.
Serv..
MARAD-2009-0097............. U.S. United Ocean M/VMary Ann Hudson.
Serv..
MARAD-2009-0094............. Liberty Maritime M/VLiberty Eagle.
Corp.
MARAD-2009-0095............. Liberty Maritime M/VLiberty Glory.
Corp.
MARAD-2009-0096............. Liberty Maritime M/VLiberty Grace.
Corp.
MARAD-2009-0098............. APL Maritime Limited APL Ireland.
MARAD-2009-0099............. APL Maritime Limited APL New York.
MARAD-2009-0100............. APL Maritime Limited APL Arabia.
MARAD-2009-0101............. APL Maritime Limited APL Virginia.
MARAD-2009-0102............. APL Maritime Limited APL Egypt.
MARAD-2009-0103............. APL Maritime Limited APL Jade.
MARAD-2009-0104............. APL Maritime Limited APL Japan.
MARAD-2009-0105............. APL Maritime Limited APL Pearl.
MARAD-2009-0106............. APL Maritime Limited APL Cyprine.
[[Page 51656]]
MARAD-2009-0107............. APL Maritime Limited APL Agate.
MARAD-2009-0108............. APL Maritime Limited APL Agaman.
MARAD-2009-0109............. APL Maritime Limited APL Amazonite.
MARAD-2009-0110............. APL Maritime Limited APL Alexandrite.
MARAD-2009-0111............. APL Maritime Limited APL Germany.
MARAD-2009-0112............. APL Maritime Limited APL Hong Kong.
MARAD-2009-0113............. APL Maritime Limited APL Vietnam.
MARAD-2009-0114............. APL Maritime Limited APL Malaysia.
MARAD-2009-0115............. APL Maritime Limited APL Denmark.
MARAD-2009-0116............. APL Maritime Limited APL Sardonyx.
MARAD-2009-0117............. APL Maritime Limited APL Canada.
MARAD-2009-0118............. APL Maritime Limited APL Holland.
MARAD-2009-0119............. APL Maritime Limited APL Belgium.
MARAD-2009-0120............. APL Maritime Limited APL Spain.
MARAD-2009-0121............. APL Maritime Limited APL Garnet.
MARAD-2009-0122............. APL Maritime Limited APL Sweden.
MARAD-2009-0123............. APL Maritime Limited APL India.
MARAD-2009-0124............. APL Maritime Limited APL Australia.
MARAD-2009-0125............. APL Maritime Limited APL Amman.
MARAD-2009-0126............. APL Maritime Limited APL Italy.
MARAD-2009-0127............. APL Maritime Limited APL Atlanta.
MARAD-2009-0128............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. FF Dubai Express.
MARAD-2009-0129............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. FF Lahore Express.
MARAD-2009-0130............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. FF New Delhi
Express.
MARAD-2009-0131............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. US Charleston
Express.
MARAD-2009-0132............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. US Philadelphia
Express.
MARAD-2009-0133............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. US St. Louis
Express.
MARAD-2009-0134............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. US Washington
Express.
MARAD-2009-0135............. Hapag Lloyd USA LLC. US Yorktown Express.
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The self-designations sought by vessel owners and operators will
remain effective unless MARAD reaches a different determination. MARAD
will issue such determinations no later than 15 calendar days from the
close of the comment period, that is, no later than November 3, 2009.
Vessel owners and operators who object to MARAD's designation may
appeal to the MARAD Administrator within 10 calendar days, or no later
than 5 p.m. EDT on November 13, 2009. MARAD will issue its final
determination in such cases within 30 calendar days, or no later than
December 14, 2009, after consultation with USAID, USDA, and the U.S.
Department of State.
Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, vessels for which no applications
for self-designation are submitted will retain the classification found
on the existing vessel list maintained by MARAD unless and until MARAD
makes a contrary designation. The MARAD list may be found at: http://
marad.dot.gov/documents/MAR730_Master VesselList forCargo
Preference.pdf.
ADDRESSES: All comments should prominently refer to the docket assigned
to the vessel to which they pertain. Interested persons are strongly
encouraged to submit their comments electronically via the Internet at
http://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket number provided above that
pertains to the relevant vessel and follow instructions for submitting
comments. Comments may also be submitted via Fax or by hand or express
delivery. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Hand or express delivery: Docket Clerk,
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean E. McKeever, Associate
Administrator for Business and Workforce Development, Maritime
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; phone:
(202) 366-5737; fax: (202) 366-6988; or e-mail: jean.mckeever@dot.gov.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to
contact the above individuals during business hours. The FIRS is
available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a
message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
By Order of the Acting Maritime Administrator.
Dated: October 2, 2009.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-24165 Filed 10-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P