VES-3-16-CO:R:P:C 109576 LLB

Cheryl Dendy, Esq.
Sub Sea International, Inc.
1600 Canal Street
P.O. Box 61780
New Orleans, Louisiana 70161

RE: Applicability of the Coastwise Laws to Deep Sea Diving Operations Conducted from a Non-Coastwise-Qualified Vessel on the Outer Continental Shelf

Dear Ms. Dendy:

Reference is made to your letter of June 15, 1988, in which you request that we rule upon the proposed use of a foreign-flag vessel to support deep sea diving operations to be conducted on the outer Continental Shelf.

FACTS:

It is proposed that a foreign-flag vessel will be moored in Houston, at which time a "saturation diving system" would be placed aboard and welded to the deck. The system consists, in part, of a diving bell meant to assist in deep dive operations.

The vessel will then proceed to a point on the outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico where it will take up a stationary position. It will maintain position by use of a "dynamic positioning system", whereby engines and thrusters are employed which are controlled by surface and subsurface positioning controls. There will be no anchors, chains, or cables deployed to hold the vessel in position.

Once in position, the diving bell would be launched and held off the bottom. Divers would then be deployed and would swim to previously laid flexible pipelines. The ends of these would be pulled together and bolted with flanges. This procedure would be repeated for numerous cables, and would proceed for a period of up to two months until all pipes were connected. The vessel would then proceed back to port where the diving system would be removed by having the weld spots burned off.

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ISSUE:

Whether the coastwise laws are violated when a non- qualified vessel is utilized to launch and support deep sea diving operations on the outer Continental Shelf, while stationary but not connected to the sea bed in any fashion.

Title 46, United States Code App., sections 289 and 883 (46 U.S.C. App. 289 and 883), respectively prohibit the transportation of passengers or merchandise between coastwise points in vessels which are not qualified to engage in the coastwise trade. The vessel whose use is proposed in this case is not so qualified by virtue of being registered under the flag of a foreign nation.

The remaining issues concern whether the movement between Houston and stationary location on the outer Continental Shelf is a movement between coastwise points and whether the proposed movement involves a transportation of passengers or merchandise.

Section 4(a) of the Outer Continental Sheld Lands Act of 1953, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1333 (a)) (OCSLA), provides, in pertinent part, that the laws of the U.S. are:

...extended to the subsoil and seabed of the outer Continental Shelf and to all artificial islands, and all installations and other devices permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed, which may be erected thereon for the purpose of exploring for, developing, or producing resources therefrom, or any such installation or other device (other than a ship or vessel) for the purpose of transporting such resources, to the same extent as if the outer Continental Shelf were an area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction located within a State...

As discussed earlier, the vessel in question would not be tethered or anchored in any way to the seabed of the outer Continental Shelf. Neither would the diving bell come into contact with the seabed, or engage in any extraction, exploration, or production operations. Accordingly, the vessel does not become a point on the outer Continental Shelf to which the coastwise laws are extended by the OCSLA, and neither is there any movement between Houston and a second coastwise point.

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Even if it were to be determined that the contemplated movement was between coastwise points, the divers and crew, and the equipment carried aboard the vessel, to include the diving bell and its attendant equipment, would not be considered passengers or merchandise within the contemplation of sections 289 and 883, respectively.

For purposes of interpreting the coastwise laws, it is provided in section 4.50(b), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 4.50(b)), that:

(b) A passenger...is any person carried on a vessel who is not connected with the operation of such vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business.

It is our understanding that all personnel aboard the vessel are connected with its operation and are not, therefore, passengers. Likewise, it does not appear that any of the materials to be carried aboard the vessel, to include the diving bell and its attendant equipment, is merchandise within the contemplation of section 883.

We view that activities of the vessel, diving bell, and divers to be closely analogous to a pipe-laying operation or, even more closely, a pipe repair operation. Such operations have been held by Customs to be permissible non-coastwise trade activities.

It is important to note, however, that your plans may call for the vessel to arrive at a port other than Houston upon completion of the operation, for the purpose of discharging the diving bell and equipment. Since the coastwise laws prohibit either direct or indirect movements, it would be a violation were the equipment to be discharged at any point other than the precise point at which it was taken aboard at the beginning of the voyage. You must, therefore, return to the place of loading in order to discharge the equipment and personnel.

HOLDING:

The use of a foreign-flag vessel to transport a diving bell, its equipment, and divers from a coastwise point to the outer Continental Shelf for the purpose of supporting diving operations from a stationary, unanchored position is permissible under the coastwise laws. The

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vessel must, however, return to the same location at which it took the equipment and personnel aboard in order to lawfully discharge the equipment and personnel

Sincerely,

B. James Fritz
Chief
Carrier Rulings Branch

LLBURTON:eav: 7/11/88