B03-036

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice in the Federal Register advising that the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) program requires that a notice of time, place, and nature of each Joint Planning Advisory Group (JPAG) meeting be published in the Federal Register.

On April 3, 2003, a meeting of the VISA JPAG was co-hosted by (MARAD) and the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) at Ft. Eustis, VA. Meeting attendance was by invitation only, due to the nature of the information discussed and the need for a government-issued security clearance.

For additional information contact Taylor E. Jones II, Director, Office of Sealift Support, telephone (202) 366-2323.

B03-037

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice in the Federal Register regarding the Open Season for Enrollment in the Fiscal Year 2004 Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) Program.

The VISA program mission is to promote commercial sealift and intermodal shipping services and systems, including vessels, intermodal systems and equipment, terminal facilities, and related management services, to the Department of Defense, as necessary, to meet national defense contingency requirements or national emergencies.

The purpose of the Notice is to invite interested, qualified U.S.-flag vessel operators that are not currently enrolled in the VISA program to participate in the program for FY 2004 (October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004).

Interested applicants must return completed applications to MARAD not later than 5:00 p.m., May 30, 2003.

For additional information and applications contact Frances M. Olsen, Deputy Director, Office of Sealift Support, U.S. Maritime Administration, Room 7307, 400 - Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 366-2323, fax (202) 493-2180. Additional information about VISA may be found on the agency's web site at: http://www.marad.dot.gov.

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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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