B03-017

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the extension of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) for an additional two-year period until February 13, 2005, pursuant to the provision of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended. The VISA program is the principal commercial sealift readiness program of the Department of Defense and is sponsored by the Maritime Administration. The purpose of the VISA program is to make intermodal shipping services, intermodal equipment and related management services available to the Department of Defense as required for emergency deployment and sustainment of U.S. military forces.

For additional information contact Taylor E. Jones II, Director, Office of Sealift Support, Room 7304, Maritime Administration, 400 7^th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 366-3423; fax (202) 366-3128.

B03-018

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval, an information collection entitled Service Obligation Compliance Report. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on

October 29, 2002. No comments were received.

Written comments referencing Control No. 2133-0509 should be forwarded to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17^th St., NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention MARAD Desk Officer by 5:00 p.m. March 24, 2003.

For further information contact Rita C. Jackson, Maritime Administration, 400 7^th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 366-5755; fax (202) 493-2288; or E-MAIL: rita.jackson@marad.dot.gov. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office.

B03-019

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

• Pride Central America, LLC, Houston, TX, has received approval to transfer the 4,720-gross-ton mobile offshore drilling unit PRIDE ALASKA to Vanuatu registry and flag, without change in the ownership of said Vessel.

The vessel was built in 1982 in Beaumont, TX.

• Also, Pride Central America, LLC, Houston, TX, has received approval to transfer the

3,747-gross-ton mobile offshore drilling unit PRIDE NEBRASKA to Vanuatu registry and flag, without change in the ownership of said Vessel.

The vessel was built in 1981 in Beaumont, TX.

• El Paso Tankships USA Company, Houston, TX, has received approval to transfer the 21,297-gross-ton tanker HOUSTON to Marshall Islands registry and flag, without change in the U.S. ownership of said Vessel.

The vessel was built in 1973 in San Diego, CA.

 

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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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