Overview
Title
Request Notice: Use of Foreign Vessel in U.S. Coastwise Trade, M/V OLIVE MARIE
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Maritime Administration wants to know if it's okay for a boat made in another country to carry a small number of people in the U.S., and they're asking people to share their thoughts on whether this might hurt American boat makers or businesses.
Summary AI
The Maritime Administration, under the Department of Transportation, is considering a request to use a foreign-built vessel in U.S. coastwise trade for carrying no more than twelve passengers. This notice has been published to invite public comments on whether the proposed use would negatively impact U.S. vessel builders or businesses that use U.S.-built vessels. Interested parties can submit their comments by May 23, 2025, through various methods detailed in the notice. The document outlines instructions for participating and assures that all comments, including those with personal information, will be made publicly available.
Abstract
The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to make determinations regarding the coastwise use of foreign built; certain U.S. built; and U.S. and foreign rebuilt vessels that solely carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. MARAD has received such a determination request and is publishing this notice to solicit comments to assist with determining whether the proposed use of the vessel set forth in the request would have an adverse effect on U.S. vessel builders or U.S. coastwise trade businesses that use U.S.-built vessels in those businesses. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a description of the proposed service, is in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
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Sources
AnalysisAI
Summary of the Document
The document from the Maritime Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation is a public notice inviting comments on a request to use a foreign-built vessel in U.S. coastwise trade. The proposed operation involves carrying up to twelve passengers. The notice seeks public input on whether this use would adversely affect U.S. vessel builders or businesses that utilize U.S.-built ships for similar purposes. Individuals and organizations can submit their comments by May 23, 2025, using various methods described in the document.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the main concerns with this document is the lack of specific details about the cost or financial implications of granting such a coastwise trade endorsement. Without this information, stakeholders may have difficulty assessing the potential for resource inefficiency or economic impact. Additionally, the document lacks specific details about the vessel in question and the nature of its proposed service. This vagueness can hinder a comprehensive evaluation of potential effects on U.S. vessel builders and coastwise trade businesses.
The process for submitting comments, particularly those deemed confidential, is described but could be clarified with step-by-step instructions. The criteria that will be used to assess the impact of the foreign vessel on U.S.-built vessel businesses are not outlined, which could lead to disputes or inconsistencies in decision-making. Lastly, the note requesting personal contact information from commenters raises potential privacy concerns, as there is limited information provided on how this data will be protected, despite a reference to the Privacy Act.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
The impact of this document and the subsequent decision could be broad and significant for different segments of the public and stakeholders. For businesses that rely on U.S.-built vessels, the approval of foreign-built vessels in coastwise trade could introduce new competition, potentially impacting their market share and profitability. If U.S. builders perceive this move as a threat, it could lead to economic consequences in terms of reduced demand for domestically built vessels and potential job losses in the construction sector.
Conversely, the introduction of foreign-built vessels could offer more options and possibly lower costs for services that require coastwise trade, benefiting consumers and possibly leading to lower passenger fares or more varied services in coastal areas. However, these potential benefits must be weighed against the potential negative impact on existing U.S. businesses and industries.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For policymakers, this document represents a call to balance regulatory responsibilities between encouraging competition and protecting domestic industries. For U.S. vessel builders, the decision could directly affect business prospects, competitive dynamics, and employment within the industry.
Consumer groups and coastal communities may view this move as potentially beneficial if it results in increased service availability or reduced costs. Still, community displacement or environmental concerns could accompany expanded foreign vessel operations. As such, stakeholder responses to this notice could significantly inform the final decision, with economic, regulatory, and community implications to consider carefully.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific details about the potential costs or financial implications associated with granting the coastwise trade endorsement for the foreign vessel, which could lead to questions about potential waste or inefficient use of resources.
• There is a lack of specific information about the requestor's vessel and the nature of the service proposed, which might prevent comprehensive evaluation of the potential impact on U.S. vessel builders and coastwise trade businesses.
• The language used to describe the process for submitting confidential comments could be clearer. The process is described but might benefit from step-by-step instructions to ensure precise compliance from the commenter.
• The document does not include any measures or criteria that will be used to assess whether the foreign vessel's use in coastwise trade will adversely affect U.S.-built vessel businesses, leading to potential disputes or inconsistencies.
• The note about including personal contact information when submitting comments could be perceived as unclear or invoking privacy concerns without additional context on privacy protection measures beyond the reference to the Privacy Act.