Determination of Availability of Coastwise-Qualified Launch Barges

The Maritime Administration supports the coastwise laws of the United States. We are publishing this interim final rule to establish regulations governing administrative determinations of availability of coastwise-qualified launch barges to be used in the transportation and, if needed, launch or installation of offshore oil drilling or production platform jackets in specified projects only. Based upon any further comments received, we may publish an amended final rule. We view this as a special, technical legislative requirement that does not indicate a change in our full support for other requirements of the coastwise laws. Specifically, this rulemaking implements provisions of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004, which, among other things, requires the Secretary of Transportation (acting through the Maritime Administrator) to adopt procedures to maximize the use of coastwise-qualified launch barge vessels but if the Secretary determines such coastwise-qualified vessels are not available for platform jacket transport and launching, then to allow the use of non- coastwise-qualified launch barges.