U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

400 7th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20590

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PRESS BOOK

B03-034

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a meeting on Monday, May 12, 2003, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, May 13, 2003, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to discuss the Council's Team Reports, its SEA-21 proposal, short sea shipping, shipbuilding, MTS infrastructure needs and other issues.

The meeting will be held in the Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. The hotel's phone number is (202) 628-7177.

For further information contact Raymond Barberesi, Maritime Administration, MAR-830, Room 7201, 400 - Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 366-4357, or via email: Raymond.Barberesi@marad.dot.gov.

B03-035

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved three applications under section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended. They include:

• Interlake Steamship Company, Richfield, Ohio, has received approval to sell the 10,970 -gross-ton bulk carrier ELTON HOYT 2^ND to Lower Lakes Towing Ltd., a Canadian corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Canadian registry and flag.

  The vessel was built in 1952 in Sparrows Point, MD.

• Western Overseas, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, has received approval to sell the 36,617-gross-ton tanker SAG RIVER to Snow Drop Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation, for resale to Hariyana Ship Breakers Ltd., and Indian company, for scrapping in India.

The vessel was built in 1972 in Baltimore, MD.

• Also, Western Overseas, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, has received approval to sell the 35,646-gross-ton tanker PRUDHOE BAY to Snow Drop Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation, for resale to Hariyana Ship Breakers Ltd., and Indian company, for scrapping in India.

The vessel was built in 1971 in Baltimore, MD.

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The mission of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) is to promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced United States merchant marine, sufficient to carry the Nation's domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. MARAD also seeks to ensure that the United States enjoys adequate shipbuilding and repair services, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity in time of national emergency.

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