AWO strongly supports the Jones Act as a commercial and public policy success and as the statutory foundation of the American maritime industry. Against that backdrop of cabotage laws and countries that heavily subsidize state-owned shipping companies and shipyards, the Jones Act provides the stability for domestic maritime companies to make long-term, multibillion dollar investments in vessels, shoreside facilities and technology to meet the needs of their customers in every sector of the U.
Underpinned by the Jones Act, the domestic maritime industry also supports U. They blamed the decline in the American merchant marine on the act, but nonetheless, failed to brainstorm alternative legislation. Although waivers of the Jones Act are frequently issued in the case of disaster or emergency, they expire a couple of weeks, if not days after the date of issuance, which critics say is not enough time to make any visible changes.
After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in , a day waiver to the Jones Act was issued — about 10 ships delivered relief supplies, evacuated people stranded on the island, and transported fuel from the States. Shortly after that, the waiver expired, and now, three years later the aftereffects of Hurricane Maria still linger on the island. What supporters of the Jones Act say. Those who remain in favor of the Jones Act say that keeping the law in place will help the American shipbuilding industry by employing and using the services of actual Americans.
Statistics show that approximately 82, jobs in the commercial shipbuilding and domestic waterborne industries are attributable to the Jones Act fleet. The Transportation Institute, a nonprofit organization funded by the U. Maritime Industry, says that the Jones Act follows all American protocols related to taxation, regulation, labor costs, and working conditions, and thus that is the reason why it costs more to ship on American ships.
No matter how streamlined and cost-effective their operations are, they will always be at a disadvantage when compared to foreign operators who do not have to play by comparable rules. The Jones Act is also why all cruises embark and debark in the same U.
According to the Jones Act, guests cannot pre-plan or purposely begin or end a trip in a U. This law acts much like the Cabotage Act in Italy, where ships of non-Italian registry are prohibited from stopping at two different Italian ports. In all, the Jones Act and other Cabotage laws remain a much-debated topic in the international shipping and shipbuilding industries.
On one hand, they support protectionist measures, and they concurrently place a limitation on domestic travel and trade. Maria Cantwell , Rep.
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