# 2026-11756: Coastwise Trade Waiver Sought for S/V KELMAR

2026-11756, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, S/V KELMAR, is a Federal Register notice from Transportation Department, Maritime Administration published 2026-06-11, effective Submit comments on or before July 13, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11756
- As of: 2026-06-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-11756
- Title: Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, S/V KELMAR
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Maritime Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 35603
- Published: 2026-06-11
- Effective: Submit comments on or before July 13, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-07-13
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-18

## In one line

Coastwise Trade Waiver Sought for S/V KELMAR

## Summary

The Maritime Administration is asking for your thoughts on letting a foreign-built small passenger boat, the S/V KELMAR, operate in U.S. coastal waters carrying up to 12 passengers. This decision could affect U.S. boat builders and local businesses, so they want to hear from the public by July 13, 2026. If approved, it might shake up the small passenger vessel scene without costing taxpayers a dime.

## Abstract

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by MARAD, is authorized to make determinations regarding the coastwise use of foreign built; certain U.S. built; and U.S. and foreign rebuilt vessels that solely carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. MARAD has received such a determination request and is publishing this notice to solicit comments to assist with determining whether the proposed use of the vessel set forth in the request would have an adverse effect on U.S. vessel builders or U.S. coastwise trade businesses that use U.S.- built vessels in those businesses. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a description of the proposed service, is in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

## Effects PRIA read

- Foreign Vessel May Affect U.S. Builders: cost, medium. MARAD has received a request to allow the foreign-built S/V KELMAR to engage in U.S. coastwise trade carrying no more than 12 passengers for hire. If approved, MARAD is asking whether that use would have an undue adverse effect on U.S. vessel builders or coastwise trade businesses; interested parti…
- Approval Could Allow 12-Passenger Service: benefit, medium. Under 46 U.S.C. 12121(b), the U.S. Coast Guard may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise trade endorsement for eligible small passenger vessels authorized to carry no more than 12 passengers for hire. The notice concerns a determination request for the foreign-built S/V KELMAR and s…

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## Sources
- [2026-11756 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/11/2026-11756/request-notice-use-of-foreign-built-small-passenger-vessel-in-united-states-coastwise-trade-sv)
- [2026-11756 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-11/pdf/2026-11756.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-11755, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Co…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11755)
- [Next: 2026-11757, New Postal Products](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11757)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11756 (as of 2026-06-18).