By the end of this week Jacksonville-based shipping company Crowley Maritime Corporation will have offloaded more than 6,500 loads of FEMA and commercial cargo from 20 vessels at its San Juan, Puerto Rico terminal since Hurricane Maria struck the island in late September, the company said in an update Tuesday. Crowley projects another 9 vessels, carrying between 2,500 and … [Read more...]
House Bill Seeks 5-Year Moratorium of Jones Act in Puerto Rico
Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL) and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) have introduced a bill that would place a 5-year moratorium of the Jones Act in Puerto Rico as the U.S. commonwealth recovers from Hurricane Maria. The bill, known as the Puerto Rico Humanitarian Act (H.R. 3966), was introduced before the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed Services … [Read more...]
American Mariners Fret Over Attacks on Jones Act
By Daniel Flatley (Bloomberg) -- On the darkened bridge of the Chesapeake Trader, with radio chatter filling the air, three officers were easing the giant freighter into San Francisco Bay when an unexpected vessel suddenly appeared on the starboard side. They scrambled to avoid catastrophe. The computerized simulation -- conducted in a landlocked office park … [Read more...]
DHS Says Extension of Puerto Rico Jones Act Waiver Not Needed
WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday it believes that extending its 10-day waiver on shipping limitations to Puerto Rico is not needed to support relief efforts for the hurricane-ravaged island. Homeland Security issued the waiver of the Jones Act on Sept. 28, which runs out on Sunday, after a request by Puerto Rico Governor … [Read more...]
U.S. Maritime Industry Dispels Jones Act Misinformation in Washington
American shipping industry executives were in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to participate in a panel discussion during a House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Democrats hearing on the Jones Act and its impacts on hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. The panel of industry experts included Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE, Michael Roberts, Senior Vice … [Read more...]
Tankers Discharge Fuel in Puerto Rico as Marine Terminals Reopen
By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Buckeye Partners has resumed operations at its marine oil terminal and storage tanks in Puerto Rico, which could help ease shortages of diesel and gasoline on the island two weeks after it closed the facility ahead of Hurricane Maria. Buckeye last week reopened a truck terminal at its Yabucoa terminal, but fuel imports to Puerto … [Read more...]
Trump Administration Defends Wait to Waive Jones Act for Puerto Rico
By Margaret Talev (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump’s top disaster adviser defended the administration’s eight-day wait to waive restrictions under the Jones Act that limited which ships could be used to deliver relief supplies to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, despite complaints from lawmakers. Tom Bossert, Trump’s homeland security adviser, said the criticism … [Read more...]