Following up on our alert of July 13, 2011, entitled "Coast Guard to Issue Notice Regarding Coastwise Citizenship for Public Companies," the Coast Guard will publish a Notice in the November 3, 2011, Federal Register seeking comments and information on the methods used by publicly-traded companies to determine compliance with the citizenship laws for vessels operating in the coastwise and fisheries trades. The Coast Guard has stated that it is soliciting information "for the benefit of the Coast Guard but also for the mutual benefit of industry," and has said that it will not retaliate against commenters that "question or complain about citizenship requirements or any policy or action of the Coast Guard." Comments are due in early February 2012.
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