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

HQ H063711 June 5, 2009 VES-3-02-OT:RR:BSTC:CCI H063711 CK CATEGORY: Carriers Mr. Brett Walker Inchcape shipping Services Harry E. James Building 9000 Regency Square Boulevard Suite 206 Jacksonville, FL 32211 RE: Coastwise Transportation; 46 U.S.C. § 55103; 19 C.F.R. § 4.50(b) Dear Mr. Walker: This letter is in response to your correspondence dated June 4, 2009, in which you request a ruling on whether the coastwise transportation of the individual mentioned therein aboard the MT SWIFT ARROW constitutes a violation of 46 U.S.C. § 55103. Our ruling on your request follows. FACTS: The voyage in question involves the transportation of one individual aboard the non-coastwise-qualified MT SWIFT ARROW ("the vessel"). This individual will embark on June 6, 2009 at the port of Jacksonville, Florida and will disembark at the port of Baltimore, Maryland on June 10, 2009. This individual will travel aboard the vessel to carry out a semi-annual inspection. The inspection will include evaluating the vessel’s: safety; environment and Marpol compliance; maintenance status; compliance with vessel owner’s policies and instructions; cost, budget, and future planning; performance of the vessel; and crew relations. ISSUE: Whether the individual described above 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, the individual will travel aboard the vessel to carry out a semi-annual inspection. Under the facts presented, the individual 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, the coastwise transportation of the subject individual is not 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, Glen E. Vereb, Chief Cargo Security, Carriers and Immigration Branch