United States Fourth Circuit

In a challenge to the Coast Guard's regulatory scheme governing the issuance of coastwide endorsements to vessels, an order enjoining the regulations is reversed where the Coast Guard's interpretation of its regulatory scheme gave all parts of the scheme functional significance.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/21/2009
• Published 08/21/2009

Judges

• Before MOTZ, KING and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Monika L. Moore, Office of the United States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia;  Michael Joseph, Blank & Rome, LLP, Washington, DC, for Appellants.  William D. Dolan, III, Venable, LLP, Vienna, Virginia, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellants United States Coast Guard, United States Department of Homeland Security, and National Vessel Documentation Center.   Alex Blanton, Blank & Rome, LLP, Washington, D.C., for Appellants Seabulk Petroleum Transport, Incorporated and Seabulk Energy Transport, Incorporated.   Marc J. Fink, Anne E. Mickey, Robert Magovern, Sher & Black-Well, LLP, Washington, D.C., for Appellee Shipbuilders Council of America, Incorporated;  Michael W. Robinson, John F. Cooney, Venable, LLP, Vienna, Virginia, for Appellee Crowley Maritime Corporation;  Bernard J. DiMuro, Dimuroginsburg, PC, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee Overseas Shipholding Group, Incorporated.  Gene C. Schaerr, Constantine G. Papavizas, Andrew C. Nichols, Winston & Strawn, LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Supporting Appellants.