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

HQ H064355 June 10, 2009 VES-3-02:OT:RR:BSTC:CCI H064355 ALS CATEGORY: Carriers Mr. David Kramer Fleet Manager Seaspan Ship Management Ltd. 2600-200 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 1S4 RE: Coastwise Transportation; 46 U.S.C. § 55103; 19 CFR 4.50(b) Dear Mr. Kramer: This letter is in response to your request of June 1, 2009, with respect to the coastwise transportation of an individual. Our ruling is set forth below. FACTS: You ask whether an individual may be transported on the non-coastwise qualified M/V SCCL PANAMA (the "vessel"), from Charleston, South Carolina to Miami, Florida. The individual was to have embarked in Charleston on June 8, 2009, and is scheduled to disembark in Miami on or about June 10, 2009. The individual will be on board the vessel to inspect the condition of all running machinery and its efficiency, inspect the navigation and communications equipment, inspect the safety aspect of the vessel in terms of lifesaving appliances and firefighting equipment, inspect the staff’s competence, supervise repairs, and inspect the vessel’s compliance with United States port regulations and international regulations. ISSUE: Whether the subject individual is a "passenger" within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 CFR 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. The coastwise law applicable to the carriage of passengers is found in 46 U.S.C. § 55103 (recodified by Pub. L. 109-304, enacted on October 6, 2006) and provides that: 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 is wholly owned by citizens of the United States for purposes of engaging in the coastwise traffic; and 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. Penalty. The penalty for violating subsection (a) is $300 for each passenger transported and landed. Section 4.50(b), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Regulations (19 CFR 4.50(b)) provides as follows: A passenger within the meaning of this part is any person carried on a vessel who is not connected with the operation of such vessel, her navigation, ownership, or business. You state that the subject individual will be on board the vessel to inspect the condition of all running machinery and its efficiency, inspect the navigation and communications equipment, inspect the safety aspect of the vessel in terms of lifesaving appliances and firefighting equipment, inspect the staff’s competence, supervise repairs, and inspect the vessel’s compliance with United States port regulations, U.S. Coast Guard requirements, and international regulations. In this context, and 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 CFR 4.50(b), 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. CBP Ruling HQ 101699 (November 5, 1975); see also CBP Ruling HQ 116721 (September 25, 2006). Thus, in the present case, to the extent that the individual would be engaged in any shipboard activities while traveling on the foreign vessel between coastwise ports, that would be "directly and substantially" related to the operation, navigation, or business of the vessel itself, as would be the case under the facts herein submitted, such individual would not be considered to be a passenger. See HQ 116721, supra; and CBP Ruling HQ 116659 (May 19, 2006) (referencing the "direct and substantial" test). See also Customs telex 104712, of July 21, 1980, finding that repairmen were not passengers when carried aboard a foreign vessel between U.S. ports "for [the] purpose of repairing vessel en route between such ports." We find that the proposed activities in this case are directly and substantially connected with the operation, navigation, and business of the vessel. Therefore, we determine that the subject individual is not a "passenger" within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 55103 and 19 CFR 4.50(b). Accordingly, the coastwise transportation of such 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 CFR 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