# 2026-22702: Federal Officials Weigh Another Foreign-Built Passenger Vessel

2026-22702, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V NIUHI 2, is a Federal Register notice from Transportation Department, Maritime Administration published 2026-11-06, effective Submit comments on or before December 7, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22702
- As of: 2026-11-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-22702
- Title: Request Notice: Use of Foreign-built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V NIUHI 2
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Maritime Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 70120
- Published: 2026-11-06
- Effective: Submit comments on or before December 7, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-12-07
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

## In one line

Federal Officials Weigh Another Foreign-Built Passenger Vessel

## Summary

The U.S. Department of Transportation is asking for public comments on whether a foreign-built small passenger boat, the M/V NIUHI 2, should be allowed to operate in U.S. coastal trade. This decision could affect U.S. boat builders and businesses using American-made vessels. Comments are open until December 7, 2026, so now’s the time to weigh in!

## 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-built boat may compete with U.S. builders: cost, medium. MARAD is considering whether the foreign-built small passenger vessel M/V NIUHI 2 (a vessel that would carry no more than 12 passengers for hire) may operate in U.S. coastwise trade. MARAD must decide if allowing this use would 'adversely affect' United States vessel builders or U.S. coastwise trad…
- Public comment deadline and confidentiality option: benefit, low. Interested parties can submit comments on DOT Docket MARAD-2026-1783 about the M/V NIUHI 2 through https://www.regulations.gov or by mail; comments must be submitted on or before December 7, 2026. All comments (including personal identifying information) will be posted publicly unless you request c…
- Statutory test for small (<=12) passenger vessel eligibility: mixed, low. Under 46 U.S.C. 12121(b), the U.S. Coast Guard may issue a coastwise trade endorsement for eligible small passenger vessels that carry no more than 12 passengers for hire only after MARAD publishes notice and determines the vessel's coastwise use will not adversely affect U.S. vessel builders or co…

## Related documents

- [2026-22617](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22617): Deepwater Port Application Processing and Licensing, 2026-11-05
- [2026-12547](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12547): Tanker Security Program, 2026-06-23
- [2026-22703](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22703): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V ISLAND VIBEZ, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22699](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22699): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V JULIANA, 2026-11-06
- [2026-21638](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21638): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V GT PRINCESS, 2026-10-23
- [2026-21642](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21642): Request Notice: Use of Foreign-built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, M/V LUMINOSITY, 2026-10-23

## Sources
- [2026-22702 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/06/2026-22702/request-notice-use-of-foreign-built-small-passenger-vessel-in-united-states-coastwise-trade-mv-niuhi)
- [2026-22702 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-06/pdf/2026-22702.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-22701, Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Concerning Procedures…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22701)
- [Next: 2026-22703, Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Co…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22703)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22702 (as of 2026-11-06).