Overview
Title
Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, S/V VELA VIA
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to know if they should let a foreign-built boat named S/V VELA VIA work in the U.S. They need help from people to decide if this would hurt American boat makers or businesses.
Summary AI
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking public comments on a request for using a foreign-built passenger vessel, named S/V VELA VIA, in U.S. coastal trade. They need to determine if its use would negatively impact American vessel builders or businesses that use American-built vessels. Comments are welcome until May 23, 2025, and can be submitted via mail or the federal eRulemaking portal. MARAD is responsible for making decisions about foreign and certain U.S.-built vessels through authority granted by the Department of Transportation.
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
General Summary
The document in question is a notice issued by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), part of the Department of Transportation, requesting public comments on a proposal that involves using a foreign-built vessel named S/V VELA VIA in U.S. coastwise trade. Generally, coastwise trade refers to the transportation of goods or passengers between U.S. ports. The key issue being considered is whether employing this particular foreign-built vessel would have a detrimental effect on American businesses or shipbuilders that use domestically manufactured vessels. Interested parties have until May 23, 2025, to submit their comments through mail or an online federal portal.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the primary concerns with this document is the absence of the requester's identity, which would add transparency to the process. Knowing who is proposing to use this foreign-built vessel could help the public better understand the potential impacts. Furthermore, while detailed instructions for submitting comments are provided, there is a lack of guidance on what constitutes a valid or useful comment. This could result in submissions that are irrelevant or unhelpful in the decision-making process.
Additionally, terms like "coastwise trade endorsement" and "small passenger vessels" are used without explanation, which might confuse some readers unfamiliar with maritime or legal terminology. The document also mentions assessing "undue adverse effects," yet it does not define what these effects entail or how they will be measured, leaving room for subjective interpretation.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, this document represents an opportunity to participate in a regulatory process that could influence local maritime commerce. The involvement of a foreign-built vessel in U.S. waters may impact both competition and service availability in the coastwise trade. However, the public’s ability to contribute meaningful feedback might be limited by the ambiguous instructions and undefined criteria for assessing adverse effects.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For U.S. vessel builders and businesses relying on American-built ships, the decision on this request could have significant implications. Should the use of the S/V VELA VIA be allowed, it could introduce additional competition, potentially affecting the demand for domestically produced vessels. This could be viewed negatively by stakeholders invested in the American shipbuilding industry.
Conversely, entities that support or benefit from the lighter regulatory involvement might welcome the introduction of foreign-built vessels into the market, possibly leading to more diverse offerings and competitive pricing for consumers. However, these benefits must be weighed against the potential risks to American industry and trade businesses.
In summary, while the document does attempt to involve public opinion in the decision-making process, it requires greater clarity and guidance to ensure constructive participation and an informed outcome.
Issues
• The document does not specify the identity of the requester. It would be beneficial to know who is requesting the determination for transparency.
• There is no explicit mention of how MARAD will ensure that comments are submitted by interested or affected parties, which could potentially lead to irrelevant contributions.
• The document provides detailed instructions for comment submission but does not offer guidance on what constitutes a valid comment, which may result in unclear or non-contributive feedback.
• More clarity is needed on what constitutes an 'undue adverse effect' on U.S. vessel builders or coastwise trade businesses, as it might be subjective without a clear benchmark or criteria.
• The document assumes readers are familiar with terms like 'coastwise trade endorsement' and 'small passenger vessels,' which may not be immediately understood by all stakeholders.