VES-3-02-OT:RR:BSTC:CCI H119059 LLB
Mr. Jim Porter
Wilmington Shipping Company
330 Shipyard Boulevard
Wilmington, NC 28412
RE: Coastwise Transportation; 46 U.S.C. § 55103; 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b)
Dear Mr. Porter:
This letter is in response to your correspondence of August 13, 2010, in which you inquire about the coastwise transportation of the subject individual mentioned therein aboard the M/T BOW HERON. Our decision follows.
FACTS
The voyage in question involves the transportation of the subject individual aboard the non-coastwise-qualified M/T BOW HERON (the “vessel”). The subject individual will embark in Wilmington, North Carolina on or about August 15, 2010 and disembark the vessel in Morehead City, North Carolina on August 16, 2010. The individual will conduct an inspection of the vessel and master’s documentation, the working condition of machinery, and general condition of the vessel pursuant to the terms of the vessel’s time charter agreement.
ISSUE
Whether the individual described in the FACTS section above is a “passenger” within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b).
LAW and ANALYSIS
Generally, the coastwise laws prohibit the transportation of passengers or merchandise between points in the United States embraced within the coastwise laws in any vessel other than a vessel built in, documented under the laws of, and owned by citizens of the United States. Such a vessel, after it has obtained a coastwise endorsement from the U.S. Coast Guard, is said to be “coastwise qualified.”
The coastwise laws generally apply to points in the territorial sea, which is defined as the belt, three nautical miles wide, seaward of the territorial sea baseline, and to points located in internal waters, landward of the territorial sea baseline. See 33 C.F.R. § 2.22(a)(2)(2010). The coastwise law applicable to the carriage of passengers is found in 46 U.S.C. § 55103 which provides:
(a) In General. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or chapter 121 of this title, a vessel may not transport passengers between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or via a foreign port, unless the vessel-
(1) is wholly owned by citizens of the United States for purposes of engaging in coastwise traffic;
(2) has been issued a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 or is exempt from documentation but would otherwise be eligible for such a certificate and endorsement.
(b) Penalty. The penalty for violating subsection (a) is $300 for each passenger transported and landed.
The Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) Regulations, promulgated under the authority of 46 U.S.C. § 55103, provide:
A passenger within the meaning of this part is any person carried on a vessel who is not connected with the operation of the vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business.
19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b).
You state that you will be transported on the subject vessel for the a vessel inspection as described in the FACTS section above. In accordance with previous Headquarters rulings, workmen, technicians, or observers transported by vessel between ports of the United States are not classified as “passengers”, within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b), if they are required to be onboard to contribute to the accomplishment of the operation or navigation of the vessel during the voyage or are onboard because of a necessary vessel ownership or business interest during the voyage. See HQ 101699 (Nov. 5, 1975); see also HQ 116721 (Sept. 25, 2006) quoting HQ 101699. Furthermore, the shipboard activities engaged in by such aforementioned individual while traveling on a non-coastwise-qualified vessel between coastwise ports must be “directly and substantially” related to the operation, navigation, ownership, or business of the vessel itself in order for such individual to not be considered a passenger under these provisions of law.
In the present case, we find that the proposed activities described in your request would be directly and substantially connected with the business of the vessel and we therefore determine that the subject individual would not be a “passenger” during this voyage within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). Accordingly, the coastwise transportation of the individual in question would not be in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103.
HOLDING
The subject individual is not a “passenger” within the meaning of 46 U.S.C.
§ 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). Therefore, the coastwise transportation of such individual is not in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103.
Sincerely,
George F. McCray
Chief
Cargo Security, Carriers and Immigration Branch