# 2026-16215: Silent Running: Sci-Fi Boat Waives US Build Rules?

2026-16215, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V SILENT RUNNING, is a Federal Register notice from Transportation Department, Maritime Administration published 2026-08-10, effective 2026-08-10; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16215
- As of: 2026-08-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16215
- Title: Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V SILENT RUNNING
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Maritime Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 51528
- Published: 2026-08-10
- Effective: 2026-08-10
- Comments close: 2026-09-09
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-08-17

## In one line

Silent Running: Sci-Fi Boat Waives US Build Rules?

## Summary

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

- Public comment window for M/V SILENT RUNNING: benefit, low. MARAD is asking for public comments by September 9, 2026 (DOT Docket Number MARAD-2026-1256) on whether allowing the foreign-built vessel M/V SILENT RUNNING to operate in U.S. coastwise trade would have an undue adverse effect on U.S. vessel builders or U.S. coastwise trade businesses that use U.S.…
- Eligibility rule for small passenger vessels: mixed, medium. Under 46 U.S.C. 12121(b), the U.S. Coast Guard may issue a coastwise trade endorsement for eligible small passenger vessels that solely carry no more than 12 passengers for hire if MARAD determines, after notice and opportunity for comment, that the vessel's coastwise use will not adversely affect…

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- [2026-20584](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20584): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V BACK OFF, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20587](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20587): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V BEAR PAW, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20588](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20588): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V BACK OFF, 2026-10-08

## Sources
- [2026-16215 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/10/2026-16215/request-notice-use-of-foreign-built-small-passenger-vessel-in-united-states-coastwise-trade-mv)
- [2026-16215 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-10/pdf/2026-16215.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16214, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Co…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16214)
- [Next: 2026-16216, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Co…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16216)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16215 (as of 2026-08-17).