Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V SERENDIPITY
Published Date: 1/30/2026
Notice
Summary
The government is asking for your thoughts on letting a foreign-built small passenger boat, the M/V SERENDIPITY, operate in U.S. coastal waters carrying up to 12 paying passengers. This decision could affect U.S. boat builders and local businesses that use American-made vessels. You have until March 2, 2026, to share your opinion before they decide if this is a good move or not.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Decision Could Hurt U.S. Boat Builders
MARAD is considering whether the foreign-built vessel M/V SERENDIPITY may operate in U.S. coastwise trade carrying no more than 12 passengers for hire. MARAD will decide if allowing this vessel would have an adverse effect on U.S. vessel builders or on coastwise trade businesses that employ U.S.-built vessels; stakeholders may comment by March 2, 2026.
Your Comments Will Be Publicly Posted
If you submit a comment on docket MARAD-2026-0035, MARAD will post your entire comment, including any personal identifying information, to the public docket at regulations.gov. Comments must be submitted in English and will be publicly available unless you request confidential treatment as described in the notice; submit comments by March 2, 2026.
Can Request Confidential Commercial Treatment
Businesses may request MARAD to treat parts of their submissions as confidential commercial information by emailing [email protected] with the subject 'Contains Confidential Commercial Information' and explaining the basis for confidentiality. If MARAD receives a FOIA request for that information, FOIA procedures at 49 CFR 7.29 will be followed.
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Key Dates
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Previous: 2026-01861 — Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, S/V LUNA CAT
The government is asking for your thoughts on letting a foreign-built small passenger boat, the S/V LUNA CAT, operate in U.S. coastal waters carrying up to 12 passengers. This could affect U.S. boat builders and businesses that use American-made vessels. If you want to share your opinion, make sure to comment by March 2, 2026!
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