b'foreign-built/foreign-flag smallpresence there is little genuine harm toyou can be about the effect on your passengervessels: our members or to U.S. shipyards. Butbusiness, the stronger the case against whenawaiverapplicantseekstooper- thewaiver. 1.U ninspectedvesselunder100 ate in direct competition with a PVA GRT carrying up to six passengers member using a vessel built outside Protecting the coastwise trade is not the United States, we will strenuouslyjustaboutcompliancewithfederal2.Uninspectedvesselequaltoor oppose it and encourage the affectedstatutesit is about preserving theover100GRTcarryingupto12 member to do the same. health of the U.S. passenger vesselpassengers industryandthecommunities, The coastwise determination processshipyards,andworkersitsupports.3.CoastGuardinspectedvessel depends on stakeholder engagement.WithMARADconsideringscores under 100 GRT certified toIf you learn of a waiver application of waivers every year, vigilance iscarry up to 12 passengers inyourareathatposesacompetitive essential.Bystayinginformedand threat, contact PVA for assistance. Wespeakingupwhennecessary,PVA Narrow the geographic area ofcanhelpyouassesstheimpact,pre- members can help ensure that these operation to a specific port or statepare comments, and coordinate withhard-won protections remain strong ratherthanoverlybroadregions othermembers.Themorespecificfor years to come.(e.g., entire East Coast), so that MARAD and stakeholders can accurately assess local impacts.Thesechangeswouldclarifytheap-plicantsintentions,helpMARAD determinewhetherawaiverisappro-priate, and enable U.S. operators and shipyards to quickly identify when an applicantpresentsacompetitivethreat.One of MARADs core responsibil-itiesistopromoteandprotectthe U.S.-flagged industry and the Amer-ican shipbuilding base. The PVSAs U.S.-buildrequirementisnota minor technicality, it is a key com-ponentofthatprotection.Anyone wishing to carry passengers between U.S. ports can buy a coastwise-qual-ifiedvesselfromthesecondarymar-ket or contract with a U.S. shipyard fornewconstruction.Allowing foreign-built vessels into the tradewithout careful scrutiny undermines theverypolicyMARADischargedwith upholding.PVAisnotopposedtoallwaivers.Inmany cases such as a six-pack operat-ing in a remote location with no PVA 37 AUGUST 2025'