U.S. Department of Transportation MARITIME ADMINISTRATION 400 7th Street, SW Washington DC, 20590

PRESS BOOK

April 20, 2005

B05-006

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a meeting to discuss MTS needs, regional MTS outreach initiatives, the West Coast port congestion issue, Council team assignments, and other issues.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2005, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 5, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA; telephone number (800) 333-3333.

Copies of oral comments must be submitted in writing at the meeting. Additional written comments must be filed by May 12, 2005.

For further information contact Richard Lolich, Maritime Administration, MAR-830, Room 7201, 400 - 7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone 202-366-4357; or e-mail richard.lolich@marad.dot.gov.

B05-007

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 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Candidate Application for Admission. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on March 14, 2005. No comments were received.

Written comments referencing Control No. 2133-0010 should be forwarded to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 - 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: MARAD Desk Officer, by 5:00 p.m., June 20, 2005.

For further information, contact Rita Jackson, Maritime Administration, 400 – 7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590, telephone: (202) 366-0284, fax: (202) 366-7403; or e-mail: rita.jackson@marad.dot.gov. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office.

B05-008

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice in the Federal Register inviting public comment on three separate waiver applications under MARAD's Small Passenger Vessel Waiver Program. The following are the foreign-built, or vessels with lost documentation, that have applied to carry 12-passengers or less in the domestic trade:

Ø WOLF Docket Number: MARAD 2005 20990

Ø INTERLUDE Docket Number: MARAD 2005 20991

Ø KATRINA ANN Docket Number: MARAD 2005 20992

MARAD has the authority to issue a waiver of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws under certain circumstances as provided by P.L. 105-383 as amended.

Written comments referencing the above-mentioned dockets, respectively, may be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400 – 7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001 by 5:00 p.m. May 20, 2005.

Comments may be submitted electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. All comments are available for review between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Electronic versions of these documents are available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

For further information contact Sharon Cassidy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-830, Room 7201, 400 – 7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone

(202) 366-5506.

B05-009

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

Ø B No. 120 Corporation, Melville, NY, has received approval to sell the 7,912-gross-ton tank barge B NO. 120 to Girnwood Enterprises Corporation, a Panamanian corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Panamanian registry and flag.

The vessel was built in 1975 in Houston, TX.

Ø B No. 130 Corporation, Melville, NY, has received approval to sell the 8,151-gross-ton tank barge B NO. 130 to Clayworth Inc., a Panamanian corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Panamanian registry and flag.

The vessel was built in 1980 in Galveston, TX.