The Maritime Executive: Analysis Foreign-Flag Waiver Doesn’t Put Jones Act Fleet at Risk
On March 18, 2026, the Trump administration announced the approval of a 60-day Jones Act waiver to allow foreign-flagged ship to move cargoes between U.S. ports. The Jones Act (official name: Merchant Marine Act of 1920), is a federal statute that requires the use of U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, U.S.-owned (at least 75%) and U.S.-operated (at least 75% crewed by U.S. citizens) vessels to move any cargo between U.S. ports. The White House referenced the need to “ensure that U.S. airfields and military installations are properly supplied, particularly from the U.S. Gulf Coast, so that the U.S. can avoid a shortfall that would adversely affect military operations.”
…Over the years, the Jones Act has had both vocal supporters as well as detractors. In this Tanker Opinion we’ll discuss some of the pros and cons of this legislation, as we try to figure out whether this most recent waiver will meet its objectives.
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