What is the Jones Act?
The most fundamental and bedrock principle that sustains the modern American merchant marine. In effect since 1920, with roots going back to the first Congress in 1789.
Named for the late Senator Wesley Jones (R-WA), the Jones Act is the most commonly known of the U.S. maritime cabotage laws. Cabotage laws, which are common throughout the world, are designed to protect trade between two points within a single country. Just as you cannot take British Airways to fly between New York and Los Angeles, you cannot use a foreign-flagged vessel to transport goods and passengers between two ports in the United States.
The Jones Act, as Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is commonly referred to, still maintains the full support of the executive and legislative branches of our government. Although the current Jones Act only dates back to 1920, the United States has had similar cabotage laws on the books since the first Congress in 1789.
The basic impetus behind these laws is to encourage the construction and maintenance of an American flag merchant fleet, as well as to maintain the number of crews and skilled workers needed to keep that fleet sailing.
Vessels must be constructed in American shipyards
Ownership must be American
Documented under U.S. law
Crewed by U.S. citizen seafarers
Why the Jones Act matters.
National Security
The Jones Act ensures the United States has the vessels, seafarers, and shipyards necessary to protect national security and for use in time of war or national emergency. There is no guarantee foreign-flag vessels will sail into hostile areas on our behalf.
American Jobs
Without cabotage laws, foreign crews working at foreign wage rates would replace American officers and mariners on domestic trade routes. The Jones Act directly protects thousands of maritime jobs.
Industrial Base
The requirement to build vessels in American shipyards sustains a domestic shipbuilding industry. Without it, the capacity to build and repair military and commercial vessels would move offshore.
Sailing to Victory
Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, Army Sustainment Magazine
A single ship can carry approximately the same amount of cargo as 300 C-17 aircraft. During Operation Desert Storm, 95% of all cargo went by sea. The Army must sail to the fight before it can march to victory.
The organic fleet is aging, commercial ship availability is declining, and the mariner pool is shrinking. With only 78 ships engaged in international trade, there are just enough jobs to maintain the minimum pool of mariners needed to move the Army in time of war.
