OMI Courier Transport, Inc.; OMI Patriot Transport, Inc.; OMI Rover Transport, Inc.; Notice of Application for Extension of the Subsidizable Life of the Patriot, Ranger, and Courier and for Extension or Renewal of Operating-Differential Subsidy Agreements, MA/MSB-167(a), (b), and (c) Using Unused Subsidy Days

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket S-932]

OMI Courier Transport, Inc.; OMI Patriot Transport, Inc.; OMI

Rover Transport, Inc.; Notice of Application for Extension of the

Subsidizable Life of the Patriot, Ranger, and Courier and for Extension

or Renewal of Operating-Differential Subsidy Agreements, MA/MSB-167(a),

(b), and (c) Using Unused Subsidy Days

By application dated January 31, 1996, OMI Courier Transport, Inc.;

OMI Patriot Transport, Inc.; and OMI Rover Transport, Inc. (OMI

subsidiaries), recipients of operating-differential subsidy (ODS)

pursuant to Operating-Differential Subsidy Agreements (ODSA), MA/MSB-

167(a), (b), (c), and (d) request: (1) The extension of the

subsidizable life of the Patriot, Ranger, and Courier to the

termination date of MA/MSB-167(d) on January 28, 1997, and (2)

extension or renewal of ODSAs MA/MSB-167(a), (b), and (c) to permit the

OMI subsidiaries to use unused subsidy days for the duration of the

period through the termination of MA/MSB-167(d) on January 28, 1997.

The OMI subsidiaries advise that their first request is to extend

the subsidizable life of the Patriot, Ranger, and Courier in order to

permit these vessels to remain in U.S.-flag service to the fullest

extent possible.

The OMI subsidiaries advise that their second request modifies

their request of November 15, 1995, to extend or renew the ODSAs

sufficiently to permit the full use of the OMI subsidiaries' unused

subsidy days. This modification would permit the OMI subsidiaries to

use unused subsidy days until the termination of MA/MSB-167(d). The OMI

subsidiaries state that their request of November 15, 1995, to use the

total number of unused subsidy days remains pending, but in the

meantime approval of the more limited request would permit the OMI

subsidiaries to plan for the continued operation of these vessels in

U.S. flag service for at least another year. The OMI subsidiaries

advise that permitting the use of unused subsidy days would preclude

the need to establish a subsidy sharing arrangement among the four

product tankers listed in the ODSAs and permit each vessel to take full

advantage of any available U.S.-flag market opportunity.

The OMI subsidiaries advise that maintaining the opportunity for

these vessels to continue operation in the U.S. merchant marine for the

full extent of periods for which OMI subsidiaries can receive ODS would

further the purposes and policies of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as

amended, and help assure employment for U.S. seafarers for this period

of time.

This application may be inspected in the Office of the Secretary,

Maritime Administration. Any person, firm or corporation having any

interest in such request and desiring to submit comments concerning the

application must file written comments in triplicate with the

Secretary, Maritime Administration, Room 7210, Nassif Building, 400

Seventh Street SW., Washington D.C. 20590. Comments must be received no

later than 5:00 p.m. on February 27, 1996. The Maritime Subsidy Board

will consider any comments submitted and take such action with respect

thereto as may be deemed appropriate.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 2.804 Operating-

Differential Subsidies)

By Order of the Maritime Subsidy Board.

Dated: February 8, 1996.

Joel C. Richard,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 96-3257 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-81-P