03-10036. Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)/Joint Planning Advisory Group (JPAG)

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Synopsis of April 3, 2003 meeting with VISA participants.

The VISA program requires that a notice of the time, place, and nature of each JPAG meeting be published in the Federal Register. The program also requires that a list of VISA participants be periodically published in the Federal Register. The full text of the VISA program, including these requirements, is published in 68 FR 8800-8808, dated February 25, 2003.

On April 3, 2003, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) co-hosted a meeting of the VISA JPAG at Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

Meeting attendance was by invitation only, due to the nature of the information discussed and the need for a government-issued security clearance. Of the 52 U.S.-flag carrier corporate participants enrolled in the VISA program at the time of the meeting, 19 companies participated in the meeting. In addition, representatives from the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Department of Defense, and maritime labor attended the meeting.

MG Ann E. Dunwoody opened the meeting with a welcome to all attendees. She was followed by LtGen Gary Hughey, the USTRANSCOM Deputy Commander, and Captain William G. Schubert, Maritime Administrator, who provided participants with an overview of the meeting. The JPAG meeting included updates on: (1) Current operations; (2) sustainment operations; (3) redeployment operations; and (4) CBR-D training.

As of April 1, 2003, the following commercial U.S.-flag vessel operators were enrolled in the VISA program with MARAD: America Cargo Transport, Inc.; American Automar, Inc.; American International Car Carrier, Inc.; American President Lines, Ltd.; American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier, LLC; American Ship Management, L.L.C.; Bay Towing Corporation; Beyel Brothers Inc.; Central Gulf Lines, Inc.; Coastal Transportation, Inc.; Columbia Coastal Transport, LLC; Crowley Liner Services, Inc.; Crowley Marine Services, Inc.; Delta Towing; E-Ships, Inc.; Farrell Lines Incorporated; First American Bulk Carrier Corp.; First Ocean Bulk Carrier-I, LLC; First Ocean Bulk Carrier-II, LLC; First Ocean Bulk Carrier-III, LLC; Horizon Lines, LLC, Foss Maritime Company; Liberty Shipping Group Limited Partnership; Lockwood Brothers, Inc.; Lykes Lines Limited, LLC; Lynden Incorporated; Maersk Line, Limited; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; Maybank Navigation Company, LLC; McAllister Towing and Transportation Co., Inc.; Moby Marine Corporation; Odyssea Shipping Line LLC; OSG Car Carriers, Inc.; Patriot Shipping, L.L.C.; RR &VO L.L.C.; Resolve Towing & Salvage, Inc.; Samson Tug & Barge Company, Inc.; Sea Star Line, LLC; SeaTac Marine Services, LLC; Sealift Inc.; Signet Maritime Corporation; STEA Corporation; Superior Marine Services, Inc.; TECO Ocean Shipping; Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc.; Trailer Bridge, Inc.; TransAtlantic Lines LLC; Troika International, Ltd.; U.S. Ship Management, Inc.; Van Ommeren Shipping (USA) LLC; Waterman Steamship Corporation; and Weeks Marine, Inc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Taylor E. Jones II, Director, Office of Sealift Support, [phone].

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

Dated: April 18, 2003.

Joel C. Richard,

Secretary.