On December 6, 2018, the CATO Institute is hosting a conference, entitled – “The Jones Act: Charting a new Course after a Century of Failure”. This forum aims to discuss the future of the U.S. maritime industry, but the overarching supposition and basis for the entire endeavor is the abject failure of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones … [Read more...]
Largest U.S.-Built Containership Arrives in Hawaii for the First Time
The largest containership ship ever constructed in the United States arrived in Honolulu for the first time this week as part of its regular service connecting the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. The ship, named Daniel K. Inouye in honor of Hawaii's late senior U.S. Senator, is owned and operated by Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX), the leading U.S. carriers in the Pacific. It is the … [Read more...]
No Jones Act Waivers as Marine Markets Return to Normal After Canadian Pipeline Explosion
The explosion on the Enbridge natural gas pipeline on October 9, spectacular as it was, never drove the West Coast marine oil market to seek Jones Act waivers. Although one oil major was contemplating Jones Act waivers, there was sufficient equipment in the Pacific Northwest and idle in the Gulf to meet any emergency supply needs. In addition, the urgency of … [Read more...]
Why the United States Needs a Merchant Marine – A Historical Basis
By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. (Editorial) In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson addressed Congress and delivered a war message. In this speech he highlighted the main issue the United States faced with the Imperial German government, “Because submarines are in effect outlaws when used as the German submarines have been used against merchant shipping, it is impossible … [Read more...]
Gas Pipeline Explosion in Canada May Drive Jones Act Waiver Requests
By Don Martin - An explosion on October 9 to the Enbridge natural gas pipeline in Canada near Prince George B.C. threatens natural gas distribution to the refineries located in Anacortes, Washington. Refineries in the Anacortes area in Washington state depend on the Canadian natural gas supply to run several of their units that refine crude oil. As a result, the decrease in … [Read more...]