Vessel Repair Entry No. WK9-0065505-1; OOCL INNOVATION; V-557; Travel, rental, and meals; 19 U.S.C. § 1466

HQ 115200 April 2, 2001 VES-13-18 RR:IT:EC 115200 RSD CATEGORY: CARRIERS Chief Residual Liquidation and Protest Branch U.S. Customs Service 6 World Trade Center New York, New York 10048-0945 RE: Vessel Repair Entry No. WK9-0065505-1; OOCL INNOVATION; V-557; Travel, rental, and meals; 19 U.S.C. § 1466 Dear Sir: This is in response to your memorandum dated October 20, 2000, forwarding a petition for review of your ruling on an application for relief from duties assessed pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1466. Our findings are set forth below. FACTS: The OOCL INNOVATION is a U.S.-flag vessel owned by U.S. Ship Management. Subsequent to completion of foreign shipyard work, the vessel arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on June 27, 2000. An application for relief with supporting documentation was timely filed. Pursuant to a letter dated September 18, 2000, the Chief, Residual Liquidation and Protest Branch, New York, New York, denied in full the aforementioned application. A petition for review of this decision was timely filed seeking relief with respect to travel and rental charges incurred pursuant to cost for work carried out on board of the OOCL INNOVATION in Rotterdam. ISSUE: Whether the travel, rental, and meal charges for which the petitioner seeks relief are dutiable pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1466. LAW AND ANALYSIS: Title 19, United States Code § 1466, provides in pertinent part for the payment of an ad valorem duty of 50 percent of the costs of “… equipments, or any part thereof, including boats, purchased for or the repair part or material to be used, or expenses of repairs made in a foreign country upon a vessel document under the laws of the United States…” Petitioner contends that travel, rental and allowances are not actually labor performed on or materials used on the vessel and should be excluded from Customs duties. While the petitioner’s position at one time reflected Customs position with respect such charges, pursuant to the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in Texaco Marine Services, Inc., and Texaco Refining and Marketing Inc. v. United States, 44 F.3d 1539 (1994), it no longer represents Customs position in this matter. (See also Customs memorandum 113308, dated January 18, 1995, published in the Customs Bulletin on February 8, 1995 (Customs Bulletin and Decisions, vol. 29, no. 6 at p. 59), as clarified in Customs memorandum 113350, dated March 3, 1995, published in the Customs Bulletin on April 5, 1995 (Customs Bulletin and Decisions, vol. 29, no. 14, at p. 24)). It should be noted that in post-Texaco vessel repair entries such as the one currently under consideration, Customs has held travel and allowance charges to be dutiable (Customs ruling letter 115100 dated October 26, 2000). Accordingly, the travel, rental, and allowance charges in question are dutiable. HOLDING: The travel and rental expenses for which the petitioner seeks relief are dutiable pursuant 19 U.S.C. § 1466. Consequently, the petition is denied in full. Sincerely, Larry L. Burton Chief Entry Procedures and Carriers Branch