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This rulemaking would broaden the definition of short sea transportation routes to include routes that do not have parallel landside routes and include freight ferry boats and cargoes shipped in discrete units. Previously, because the purpose of the law was limited to reducing landside congestion, it applied only to waterways that paralleled landside transportation routes thus excluding routes between islands. Pursuant to section 405, of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012, the amended definition allows for the expansion of Marine Highway routes to include the Hawaiin Islands and other U.S. ports. In addition, since the last PMR, the NDAA 2016 further defined marine highways to include ferry and wheeled cargo. Changes to scope of the law has necessarily triggered revisions to the draft rule. Revisions to the rule are meant to streamline and assist the end user when seeking MARAD program assistance.