Can the Jones Act be waived?

When U.S. flagged vessels are not available to meet national defense requirements, the Department of Homeland Security may grant a waiver to the Jones Act only if the proposed shipments are in the interest of national defense and after careful evaluation of the issue. This limited waiver is part of that effort.

What is the Jones Act waiver?

The Department of Homeland Security has approved temporary Jones Act waivers for two Gulf Coast refiners, allowing them to ship cargoes of fuel aboard foreign-flag vessels to areas on the East Coast that have been affected by the Colonial Pipeline shutdown.

When was the Jones Act waived?

The U.S. government waived it in November 2012, after Hurricane Sandy slammed the East Coast, causing power outages and fuel shortages.

How do you repeal the Jones Act?

Tom McClintock (R-CA) have introduced the Open America’s Water Act, a bill that would repeal the Jones Act and allow all qualified vessels to engage in domestic trade between U.S. ports. “Restricting trade between U.S. ports is a huge loss for American consumers and producers,” said Sen. Lee.

Who can waive the Jones Act?

§ 501 (a), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) has been delegated the authority to waive the Jones Act immediately as the SECDEF is the Federal authority on “interests of national defense”, the only grounds for Jones Act waivers.

Why the Jones Act is bad?

The Jones Act not only increases the costs of goods. In the contiguous mainland states, it also leads to quicker deterioration of land-borne transportation infrastructure, by incentivizing the use of trucks and railroads for shipping, contributing as well to greater fuel consumption and pollution.

What are the disadvantages of the Jones Act?

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.”…Understanding the Jones Act: The America-First Cabotage Policy.

How does the Jones Act affect cruise ships?

The Jones Act Rules on Foreign Travel The Jones Act treats U.S. cruise ships and passengers differently from foreign cruise ships and passengers. While the act allows U.S. ships to travel directly from U.S. port to port, it prohibits foreign ships from traveling directly from U.S. port to port.

How many Jones Act vessels are there?

As of December 15, 2019, there were some 24 container ships in the Jones Act fleet. The Jones Act requires that all goods transported between U.S. ports by boat or ship must be U.S.-crewed, -owned, and -registered….