DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 7-84]
49 FR 9246
March 12, 1984
Foreign-Trade Zone 50, Long Beach, California; Application for Subzone for
the Shipyard of National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Board of Harbor Commissioners of the City of Long Beach
(BHC), grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 50 in Long Beach, requesting special-
purpose subzone status for the shipyard of National Steel and Shipbuilding
Company in San Diego, California, within the San Diego Customs port of
entry. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the
Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 USC 81a-81u), and the regulation of
the Board (15 CFR Part 400). It was formally filed on March 6, 1984. The
applicant is authorized to make this proposal under Sections 6300-6305 of
the Government Code of California.
On September 14, 1979, the Board authorized BHC to establish a
foreign-trade zone in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area (Board Order 147,
44 FR 55919, 9/28/79). The general-purpose zone is located on a 10-acre
parcel in an industrial park in the Northwest part of the City.
The proposed subzone is for the shipyard of National Steel and
Shipbuilding Company NASSCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morrison-Knudsen
Company. The NASSCO shipyard covers 126 acres, including 54 acres of
water, on San Diego Bay. It is one of ten major oceangoing vessel
construction facilities in the United States. The facility currently has
orders for the conversion of 3 Maritime Prepositioning (TAKX) vessels to be
leased to the Navy; the conversion of 3 TAKR-X Fast Logistic Ships for the
Navy; and construction of 2 TAH 19 hospital ships for the Navy. It also
performs repair work and constructs offshore oil facilities. Certain
components used in the conversion or construction of these vessels will
be purchased from abroad. These include cranes, doors, vehicle deck
panels, helicopter decks, and air mixing systems. Other components that
may be imported in the future include anchors, stern frame assemblies,
diesel engines, life boats, ladders, gears, winches, valves, coolers and
consoles.
Zone procedures will help NASSCO to reduce costs on its current orders
and to compete internationally on bids for other projects. The benefits
are related to the fact that most of the components are subject to
significant duties, and that the finished products, as oceangoing vessels,
are duty-free.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, an examiners committee has
been appointed to investigate the application and report to the Board. The
committee consists of: John J. Da Ponte, Jr. (Chairman), Director,
Foreign-Trade Zones Staff, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
20230; Allan J Rappoport, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, Pacific
Region, 880 Front Street, Room 5-S-9, San Diego, CA 92188; and Colonel
Paul W. Taylor, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Los
Angeles, P.O. Box 2711, Los Angeles, CA 90053.
Comments concerning the proposed subzone are invited in writing from
interested persons and organizations. They should be addressed to the
Board's Executive Secretary at the address below and postmarked on or
before April 12, 1984.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each of
the following locations:
U.S. Dept. of Commerce Satellite Office,
P.O. Box 81404,
3165 Pacific Highway,
San Diego, CA 92138.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1872,
14th and Pennsylvania, NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
Dated: March 7, 1984.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 84-6550 Filed 3-9-84; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M