To prescribe procedure to be followed for filing applications submitted to the Maritime Subsidy Board/Maritime Administration pursuant to the provisions of section 805(a), Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended.

(a) An applicant under section 805(a) shall file his application (16 copies, including three originals) with the Secretary, Maritime Subsidy Board/Maritime Administration at least 15 days in advance of the effective date of the action proposed in the application.

(b) The application shall concisely and clearly reflect:

(1) Whether the applicant holds an operating-differential subsidy contract under title VI of the Act, or has applied for such type contract, or

(2) Whether the applicant has a Government-owned vessel on charter under title VII of the Act or has applied for the charter of a Government-owned vessel thereunder;

(3) The action for which approval of the Maritime Subsidy Board/Maritime Administration is sought, stated in terms of a request for permission to, directly or indirectly, own, operate, or charter a vessel(s) in the domestic intercoastal or coastwise service, or to own a pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any person or concern that owns, charters, or operates any vessel(s) in the domestic intercoastal or coastwise service; and

(4) Whether the operator of the vessel to be engaged in the domestic trade is a citizen of the United States as required by and within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916.

All applications under section 805(a) shall be referred to the Chief, Office of Government Aid, Maritime Administration, for consideration and such further action as may be appropriate.

(a) A notice shall be published in the Federal Register which shall:

(1) Identify and abstract the subject of the application.

(2) Provide that interested parties may inspect the proposed application in the Office of Government Aid, Maritime Administration.

(3) Provide for a specific date by which parties having any interest (within the meaning of section 805(a)) in such application and desiring to be heard on issues pertinent to section 805(a) shall petition to intervene, or submit a written statement with reference to the application addressed to the Secretary, Maritime Subsidy Board/Maritime Administration.

(4) Provide that if no petitions for leave to intervene are received within the specified time, the Maritime Subsidy Board/Maritime Administration will take such action as may be deemed appropriate.

(5) Provide that in the event petitions are received from parties with standing to be heard on the application, a hearing will be held on a date specified in the notice.

(6) Indicate that the purpose of the hearing will be to receive evidence under section 805(a) relative to whether the proposed operation (i) could result in unfair competition to any person, firm, or corporation operating exclusively in the coastwise or intercoastal service or (ii) would be prejudicial to the objects and policy of the Act relative to domestic trade operations.

The Maritime Subsidy Board or the Maritime Administrator may dispense with the publication of notice when not inconsistent with applicable laws.