Coastwise Transportation; 46 U.S.C. § 55103; 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b)

HQ H051935 February 13, 2009 VES-3-02-OT:RR:BSTC:CCI H051935 CK CATEGORY: Carriers Mr. Oliver Hennes Technical Director Reederei Karl Schlüter GmbH & Co. KG Adolf Steckel Str. 17 24768 Rendsburg- Germany RE: Coastwise Transportation; 46 U.S.C. § 55103; 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b) Dear Mr. Hennes: This letter is in response to your correspondence dated February 12, 2008, in which you request a ruling on whether your coastwise transportation aboard the MSC URUGUAY constitutes a violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103. Our ruling on your request follows. FACTS: The voyage in question involves your transportation aboard the non-coastwise-qualified MSC URUGUAY ("the vessel"). You would embark on February 16, 2009 at New Orleans, Louisiana and will disembark at the port of Houston, Texas on February 18, 2009. You will travel aboard the vessel to carry out an ISM inspection. You will also be conducting interviews with the officers and crew members. You will review the vessel’s certificates, plans, and SMS documentation. You may conduct several ship board emergency drills. You will inspect all safety, fire-fighting, navigational, and pollution related items and will ensure the overall condition of the vessel is good. ISSUE: Whether you would be a "passenger" within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b)? LAW AND ANALYSIS: The coastwise passenger statute, former 46 U.S.C. App. § 289 recodified as 46 U.S.C. § 55103, pursuant to P.L. 109-304 (October 6, 2006), states that no foreign vessel shall transport passengers "between ports or places in the United States to which the coastwise laws apply, either directly or by way of a foreign port," under a penalty of $300 for each passenger so transported and landed. See also 19 C.F.R. § 4.80(b)(2). 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. Under 46 U.S.C. § 55103, a "passenger" is any person carried aboard a vessel "who is not connected with the operation of the vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business." See also 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). In this regard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") provides a strict interpretation of "passenger" defining the term as persons transported on a vessel unless they are "directly and substantially" connected with the operation, navigation, ownership or business of that vessel itself. See Customs Bulletin of June 5, 2002, Vol. 36, No. 23, at pp. 50. Pursuant to Headquarters Decision 101699, dated November 5, 1975, it is well settled that "workmen, technicians, or observers transported by vessel between ports of the United States are not classified as 'passengers' within the meaning of section 4.50(b) and section 289 [now section 55103] if they are required to be on board to contribute to the accomplishment of the operation or navigation of the vessel during the voyage or are on board because of a necessary vessel ownership or business interest during the voyage." See also Headquarters Decision 116721, dated September 25, 2006. In the present case, you will travel aboard the vessel to carry out an ISM inspection. You will also be conducting interviews with the officers and crew members. You will review the vessel’s certificates, plans, and SMS documentation. You may conduct several ship board emergency drills. You will inspect all safety, fire-fighting, navigational, and pollution related items and will ensure the overall condition of the vessel is good. Under the facts presented, you would be "directly and substantially" related to the operation and business of the vessel during the voyage and would not be considered a "passenger" under 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). Consequently, your coastwise transportation is not in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103. HOLDING: You are not a "passenger" within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b). Therefore, your coastwise transportation is not in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103. Sincerely, Glen E. Vereb, Chief Cargo Security, Carriers and Immigration Branch