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HQ H026495

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April 28, 2008

VES-3-02-OT:RR:BSTC:CCI H026495 JLB

CATEGORY: CARRIER

Mr. Scott Robinson
Vessel Manager
Maersk Line, Ltd.
One Commercial Place, 20th Floor
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

RE: Coastwise Transportation; 46 U.S.C. § 55103; 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b)

Dear Mr. Robinson:

This letter is in response to your correspondence dated April 25, 2008, in which you request a ruling on whether the coastwise transportation of the individuals mentioned therein aboard the MAERSK GEORGIA constitutes a violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103. Our ruling on your request follows.

FACTS

The voyage in question involves the transportation of the subject individuals aboard the non-coastwise-qualified MAERSK GEORGIA (“the vessel”). The individuals will embark on May 7, 2008 at Norfolk, Virginia and will disembark at the port of Charleston, South Carolina on May 9, 2008. The individuals will travel aboard the vessel to conduct actual vessel tank inspections for class PIMS training certification. Additionally, the individuals will provide practical instruction to the chief officers onboard in regards to these inspections and how to report maintenance actions for class acceptance.

ISSUE

Whether the individuals described above would be “passengers” within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b)?

LAW AND ANALYSIS

The coastwise passenger statute, former 46 U.S.C. App. § 289 recodified as 46 U.S.C. § 55103, pursuant to P.L. 109-304 (October 6, 2006), states that no foreign vessel shall transport passengers “between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or by way of a foreign port,” under a penalty of $300 for each passenger so transported and landed. See also 19 C.F.R. § 4.80(b)(2). The coastwise laws generally apply to points in the territorial sea, which is defined as the belt, three nautical miles wide, seaward of the territorial sea baseline, and to points located in internal waters, landward of the territorial sea baseline.

Under 46 U.S.C. § 55103, a “passenger” is any person carried aboard a vessel “who is not connected with the operation of the vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business.” See also 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). In this regard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) provides a strict interpretation of “passenger” defining the term as persons transported on a vessel unless they are "directly and substantially" connected with the operation, navigation, ownership or business of that vessel itself. See Customs Bulletin of June 5, 2002, Vol. 36, No. 23, at pp. 50.

Pursuant to Headquarters Decision 101699, dated November 5, 1975, it is well settled that "workmen, technicians, or observers transported by vessel between ports of the United States are not classified as ‘passengers’ within the meaning of section 4.50(b) and section 289 [now section 55103] if they are required to be on board to contribute to the accomplishment of the operation or navigation of the vessel during the voyage or are on board because of a necessary vessel ownership or business interest during the voyage." See also Headquarters Decision 116721, dated September 25, 2006. In the present case, the individuals would be traveling aboard the non-coastwise-qualified vessel to perform vessel tank inspections for class PIMS training certification and to provide training on these inspections. Under the facts presented, the individuals would be “directly and substantially” related to the operation and business of the vessel during the voyage and would not be considered “passengers” under 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). Consequently, the coastwise transportation of the subject individuals is not in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103.

HOLDING

The subject individuals are not “passengers” within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). Therefore, the coastwise transportation of such individuals is not in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103.

Sincerely,

Glen E. Vereb, Chief

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