Maritime Administration October 7, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.