Maritime Administration December 26, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 55108, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to make determinations permitting the use of a foreign launch barge in support of a Platform Jacket launch operation if no suitable coastwise qualified vessels are found to be available. A complete description of the process for determining the availability of coastwise qualified vessels for the transportation of Platform Jackets, including definitions and requirements, can be found at 46 CFR part 389. In order for MARAD to determine whether a suitable coastwise qualified vessel is available, this notice in the Federal Register requests that comments and information on the availability of coastwise qualified vessels for a Platform Jacket launch be submitted within 30 days of this notice's publication. Our goal is to provide a final determination within 90 days of the publication of this notice, unless a suitable coastwise qualified vessel operator comes forward with a vessel and additional time is needed for negotiation. If, after the comment period, we determine that a suitable coastwise qualified vessel is not available for the specific project requested, a determination of non-availability will be issued allowing a foreign launch barge to load, transport and launch the Platform Jacket.