Overview
Title
Coastwise Endorsement Eligibility Determination for a Foreign-Built Vessel: Serenity (Motor); Invitation for Public Comments
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government is thinking about letting a foreign-built boat called Serenity carry some people for trips in the U.S. They want to hear from people about whether this is okay, and everyone can see what others have said online.
Summary AI
The Maritime Administration (MARAD), part of the Department of Transportation, is considering whether to allow the motor yacht Serenity, which was built in a foreign country, to carry up to twelve passengers in U.S. waters under what's known as a coastwise endorsement. Before making this decision, MARAD is seeking public comments about how this might impact U.S. shipbuilders or businesses that operate U.S.-flagged vessels. Comments must be submitted by February 5, 2025. Interested parties can submit their views online or by mail, and the entire application and public comments can be viewed on the regulations.gov website.
Abstract
The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document “Coastwise Endorsement Eligibility Determination for a Foreign-Built Vessel: Serenity (Motor); Invitation for Public Comments” is a notice from the Maritime Administration (MARAD), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It concerns a request to grant a coastwise endorsement to the motor yacht Serenity, which would allow it to carry up to twelve passengers for hire in U.S. waters. This notice invites public comments on the potential impacts of this action on U.S. vessel builders and businesses that use U.S.-flagged vessels. The comments are to be submitted by February 5, 2025.
Summary of the Document
The notice serves a dual purpose: to inform the public about the request for a coastwise endorsement and to solicit feedback from interested parties. The vessel in question, the Serenity, is a 55.8-foot motor yacht operating out of Brick, New Jersey. Stakeholders are invited to comment on whether allowing this foreign-built vessel to operate commercially in U.S. waters would have adverse effects on domestic shipbuilders or businesses reliant on U.S.-flagged vessels. Comments can be submitted online or by mail and will be publicly accessible on the regulations.gov website.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One central issue with the document is the lack of clarity regarding the decision-making criteria MARAD uses to assess whether a foreign-built vessel's operations will negatively impact U.S. businesses or shipbuilders. The process by which MARAD evaluates potential adverse impacts is not well-explained, leaving stakeholders with uncertainty about how decisions are reached.
Another concern is related to privacy and confidentiality. The document states that all comments and personal information will be publicly available, which might deter some individuals or businesses from participating. Additionally, the guidance on submitting confidential information is somewhat technical, which could be challenging for some commenters to understand without specialized knowledge.
The document does not explicitly outline how public comments will influence the decision-making process or whether commenters will receive any follow-up communication, potentially leaving contributors wondering about the impact of their input.
Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
For the general public, the document highlights an opportunity to engage in governmental decision-making processes that might affect maritime activity in their region. Public participation can help ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in this kind of regulatory decision.
For stakeholders in the U.S. maritime industry – particularly shipbuilders and operators of U.S.-flagged vessels – this document represents both a potential challenge and an opportunity to express concerns or support. If the endorsement is granted, it could introduce foreign-built competition into a sensitive part of the U.S. market. This could have economic implications for domestic players in the industry.
Conversely, for businesses utilizing or considering utilizing foreign-built vessels, this notice presents a chance to advocate for more flexible maritime regulations that could potentially lower costs or expand service offerings.
In summary, while the document calls for public engagement, the ambiguity in its process and the potential privacy concerns may limit the efficacy and breadth of public participation. Addressing these barriers could result in more effective and transparent regulatory outcomes.
Issues
• The document lacks detailed information on how MARAD determines if the employment of the vessel in coastwise trade has an unduly adverse effect on U.S. vessel builders or businesses using U.S.-flag vessels, making this process unclear.
• There is no specific mention of criteria weights or how subjective factors are balanced within the eligibility determination process, which may lead to ambiguity or inconsistency in decision-making.
• Potential privacy concerns are noted since all comments submitted are made publicly available, including personal identifying information, without mention of specific privacy safeguards.
• The document provides no specific information or examples of what constitutes confidential commercial information, which could lead to uncertainty among commenters about what may or may not be submitted confidentially.
• The language used in the instructions for submitting confidential comments is somewhat technical and may be difficult for laypersons to follow without legal or professional guidance.
• There is no explanation of how public comments would influence the decision-making process or any follow-up communication that might occur with commenters after submitting their comments.