80 FR 12256 - Use of Foreign-Flag Anchor Handling Vessels in the Beaufort Sea or Chukchi Sea Adjacent to Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 44 (March 6, 2015)

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration, is authorized to make determinations permitting the use of foreign-flag anchor handling vessels in certain cases (and for a limited period of time) if no U.S.-flag vessels are found to be suitable and reasonably available. A request for such a determination regarding anchor handling vessels with a minimum ice class A3 has been received by the Maritime Administration. If the Maritime Administration determines that U.S.- flag vessels are not suitable and reasonably available for the proposed service, a determination will be granted allowing for the conditional use of these vessels, within a set time frame. Those interested in providing the names of suitable and available vessels for the proposed service should refer to the docket number, and identify the U.S.-flag vessels available.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 12256]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05226]



[[Page 12256]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD 2015-0022]


Use of Foreign-Flag Anchor Handling Vessels in the Beaufort Sea 
or Chukchi Sea Adjacent to Alaska

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the 
Maritime Administration, is authorized to make determinations 
permitting the use of foreign-flag anchor handling vessels in certain 
cases (and for a limited period of time) if no U.S.-flag vessels are 
found to be suitable and reasonably available.
    A request for such a determination regarding anchor handling 
vessels with a minimum ice class A3 has been received by the Maritime 
Administration. If the Maritime Administration determines that U.S.-
flag vessels are not suitable and reasonably available for the proposed 
service, a determination will be granted allowing for the conditional 
use of these vessels, within a set time frame. Those interested in 
providing the names of suitable and available vessels for the proposed 
service should refer to the docket number, and identify the U.S.-flag 
vessels available.

DATES: Submit U.S.-flag anchor handling ice class A3 or above vessel 
nominations on or before April 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: U.S.-flag vessel nominations should refer to docket number 
MARAD 2015-0022. Written nominations may be submitted by hand or by 
mail to the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30 West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You may also send 
documents electronically via the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. To do so, search ``MARAD 2015-0022'' and follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    All submissions will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection and copying at the above address between 10 
a.m. and 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. 
An electronic version of this document, and all documents entered into 
this docket, is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.regulations.gov., key search ``MARAD 2015-0022.'' All comments and 
documents received will be posted without change to the docket, 
including any personal or business information provided. For additional 
information on the availability of submitted material, see the section 
entitled Privacy Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Michael Hokana, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-730 Room 
W21-304, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 
202-366-0760.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Maritime Administration has received a 
request from a company seeking permission to charter a foreign-flag 
ice-classed A3 anchor handling vessel adjacent to the coast of Alaska. 
The foreign-flag anchor handling vessel (TOR VIKING II 9199622) would 
operate in the Beaufort Sea or Chukchi Sea adjacent to Alaska, under 
certain conditions, and for a limited period of time. Section 306 of 
Public Law 111-281 allows the use of foreign-flag vessels in this 
regard if the Maritime Administration determines that U.S.-flag vessels 
are not suitable or reasonably available.
    The Maritime Administration is posting this notice in the Federal 
Register providing the public notice 30 days in advance of our 
intention to provide a determination allowing for the use of a foreign-
flag vessel in this regard, if suitable and available U.S.-flag vessels 
are not otherwise identified. Our determination will be for a period of 
one calendar year from July 2015. Foreign-flag anchor handling vessels 
may not be employed for the setting, relocation or recovery of anchors 
or other mooring equipment of a mobile offshore drilling unit after 
December 31, 2017.

Privacy Act

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments and 
supporting documentation received into any of our dockets by the name 
of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review the DOT Privacy Act system of records notice for the 
Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) in the Federal Register 
published on January 17, 2008, (73 FR 3316) at http://edocket.access.thefederalregister.org/2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf.

    Authority:  Section 306, Pub. L. 111-281 (Oct. 15, 2010).

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: March 3, 2015.
Thomas M. Hudson, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-05226 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P