The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published a notice in the Federal Register inviting public comment on a waiver application under MARAD's Small Passenger Vessel Waiver Program. THE BEAST (Docket Number: MARAD 2004-18770) is foreign-built, or a vessel with lost documentation, that has applied to carry 12-passengers or less in the domestic trade:

MARAD has the authority to issue a waiver of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws under certain circumstances as provided by P.L. 105-383 as amended.

Written comments referencing the above-mentioned docket, may be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, Department of Transportation, 400 7^th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001 by 5:00 p.m. September 3, 2004. Comments may be submitted electronically via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. All comments are available for review between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

For further information contact Michael Hokana, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, MAR-830, Room 7201, 400 - 7^th St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone

(202) 366-0760.