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> The biggest is its stringent requirements, paired with a lack of federal funding, have ultimately sabotaged its own mission of maintaining a strong U.S. shipp

> The biggest is its stringent requirements, paired with a lack of federal funding, have ultimately sabotaged its own mission of maintaining a strong U.S. shipping industry that could service the country in times of war. Fewer than 100 Jones Act vessels are in operation today. Equivalent laws in Europe, for instance, allow ocean carriers to build overseas, even if the vessels are owned by European companies. Fewer than 100 ships! 100! This entire law is subsidizing 100 ships! Less than 100 people are getting rich off of this. So now we get the worst of both worlds - shipping is more expensive and the fleet we have for "times of war" is a joke. There's also a small environmental consequence here - it's often cheaper to fly heavy cargo to and from water locked areas rather than just put it on a ship (which creates a fraction of the carbon per pound/mile).

gnicholas 4y ago
> This entire law is subsidizing 100 ships! Less than 100 people are getting rich off of this. This assumes that each ship enriches only one person. How many shareholders own the companies that own the ships? And how many lobbyists are they paying to maintain the lucrative status quo? I'm sure that more than 100 people are getting rich off this, one way or another...
legalcorrection 4y ago
The article currently says "Fewer than 100 Jones Act vessels are in operating today, not including barges and tugboats". I don't know why your quote omits that.
- TylerE 4y ago
  Those are river vessels.
  - adolph 4y ago
    Not necessarily Finn Falgout is an ocean-going tugboat owned and operated by Falgout Brothers Marine Company. Finn Falgout has been contracted by SpaceX since April 2020 to tow SpaceX droneships offshore in the Atlantic Ocean for operational missions and trials. https://spacexfleet.com/finn-falgout/ https://spacexfleet.com/finn-falgout/
  - mcguire 4y ago
    Not all of them. Entertaining trivia: The Space Shuttle main tank was manufactured at the Michoud Assembly Facility, somewhere near New Orleans, and transported to KSC by barge. In 1995, the tug lost power and nearly lost the barge and tank, but both were rescued by another ship. Which then claimed 50% of the cost of the tank as salvage fees. Many lawyers were entertained and kept in Rice Krispies, but I don't remember what the bottom line turned out to be. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1995-05-15-9505140385-story.html https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1995-05-15-95051... Ha! Found something... https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1392461.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1392461.html "'Twas a dark and very stormy night, November 14-15, 1994, and the situation looked bleak for the barge Poseidon. Caught in the clutches of Tropical Storm Gordon, Poseidon and her escort, the J.A. Orgeron, were without power and adrift. Driven on the gales of the tempest, the flotilla was swiftly approaching the Bethel Shoal; if they ran aground, the ships were sure to founder and be lost. Acutely aware of the danger, Orgeron's captain radioed for help. Alas, the Coast Guard was not in a position to mount a rescue. In despair, the captain made plans to release Poseidon and her valuable cargo, an external fuel tank for the space shuttle. Although this action would result in the certain loss of Poseidon and the tank, the captain hoped thereby to save Orgeron and her crew."
- lostlogin 4y ago
  While those are needed, they aren’t going to supply a lot of Americans in a time of war. They may supply money to a few Americans the rest of the time though.
  - Retric 4y ago
    A lot of US to US traffic went on foreign owned barges which has been a real concern. It’s not about the US declaring war on the owner, because then the bandages could be seized. However, if the owner’s country declares neutrality and decides that means they can’t move war material then the US ends up in a tough spot.
legitster 4y ago
Also worth pointing out that this was clearly designed to benefit a select few shipbuilders - most other countries are fine building domestic fleets with foreign built ships. Which makes complete sense. The issue here is not finding Americans to staff the boat, it's that we refuse to buy boats from Hyundai.

gnicholas 4y ago

> This entire law is subsidizing 100 ships! Less than 100 people are getting rich off of this. This assumes that each ship enriches only one person. How many shareholders own the companies that own the ships? And how many lobbyists are they paying to maintain the lucrative status quo? I'm sure that more than 100 people are getting rich off this, one way or another...

legalcorrection 4y ago

The article currently says "Fewer than 100 Jones Act vessels are in operating today, not including barges and tugboats". I don't know why your quote omits that.

TylerE 4y ago
Those are river vessels.
- adolph 4y ago
  Not necessarily Finn Falgout is an ocean-going tugboat owned and operated by Falgout Brothers Marine Company. Finn Falgout has been contracted by SpaceX since April 2020 to tow SpaceX droneships offshore in the Atlantic Ocean for operational missions and trials. https://spacexfleet.com/finn-falgout/ https://spacexfleet.com/finn-falgout/
- mcguire 4y ago
  Not all of them. Entertaining trivia: The Space Shuttle main tank was manufactured at the Michoud Assembly Facility, somewhere near New Orleans, and transported to KSC by barge. In 1995, the tug lost power and nearly lost the barge and tank, but both were rescued by another ship. Which then claimed 50% of the cost of the tank as salvage fees. Many lawyers were entertained and kept in Rice Krispies, but I don't remember what the bottom line turned out to be. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1995-05-15-9505140385-story.html https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1995-05-15-95051... Ha! Found something... https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1392461.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1392461.html "'Twas a dark and very stormy night, November 14-15, 1994, and the situation looked bleak for the barge Poseidon. Caught in the clutches of Tropical Storm Gordon, Poseidon and her escort, the J.A. Orgeron, were without power and adrift. Driven on the gales of the tempest, the flotilla was swiftly approaching the Bethel Shoal; if they ran aground, the ships were sure to founder and be lost. Acutely aware of the danger, Orgeron's captain radioed for help. Alas, the Coast Guard was not in a position to mount a rescue. In despair, the captain made plans to release Poseidon and her valuable cargo, an external fuel tank for the space shuttle. Although this action would result in the certain loss of Poseidon and the tank, the captain hoped thereby to save Orgeron and her crew."
lostlogin 4y ago
While those are needed, they aren’t going to supply a lot of Americans in a time of war. They may supply money to a few Americans the rest of the time though.
- Retric 4y ago
  A lot of US to US traffic went on foreign owned barges which has been a real concern. It’s not about the US declaring war on the owner, because then the bandages could be seized. However, if the owner’s country declares neutrality and decides that means they can’t move war material then the US ends up in a tough spot.

legitster 4y ago

Also worth pointing out that this was clearly designed to benefit a select few shipbuilders - most other countries are fine building domestic fleets with foreign built ships. Which makes complete sense. The issue here is not finding Americans to staff the boat, it's that we refuse to buy boats from Hyundai.